ONYX

Onyx is the Mystical birthstone for the month of December. It is also the stone for the Zodiac sign of Leo(Birthstone), Capricorn ( Talismanic Stones).
Onyx is a chalcedony quartz that is mined in Brazil, India, California and Uruguay that has a fine texture and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background. Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name comes from the Greek word onyx, which means fingernail.
The legend is that one day Cupid cut the fingernails of Venus while she was sleeping and left the clippings scattered on the ground. So that no part of Venus would ever perish, the fates turned them into stone.
In Greek times, almost all colors of chalcedony from white to dark brown and
black were called onyx. Later, the Romans narrowed the term to refer to black
and dark brown colors only. Onyx which is reddish brown with white and lighter
reddish bands is known as sardonyx. A 6.5 on the Mohs' scale, onyx is a very
good stone for use in carving.
Most Black Onyx that is commercially available today is color enhanced (heated and dyed) to increase it's depth of color.
Folklore:
Thought to increase regeneration, happiness, intuition, instincts. Also thought
to decrease sexual desire and helps to change bad habits.
There are many variations of birthstone lists and much duplication and overlap between them. Some scholars attribute the origin of the tradition of birthstones to the Breastplate of Aaron (the brother of Moses), a religious caftan arranged with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel.
Birthstones based on your Zodiac:
Sign |
Birthstones |
Luckstones |
Planetary |
Aries 21 March - 19 April
|
Bloodstone or Red Carnelian Other lists include: Diamond |
Diamond
|
Jasper |
Taurus 20 April - 20 May
|
Sapphire or Orange Carnelian Other lists include: Turqouis, Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald |
Diamond
|
Emerald
|
Gemini 21 May - 21 June
|
Agate or Citrine, Tiger's eye
Other lists include: Chrysoprase, Pearl |
Agate
|
Tiger Eye |
Cancer 22 June - 22 July
|
Emerald or Green Aventurine Other lists include: Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby |
Emerald
|
Moonstone |
|
Leo 23 July - 22 August
|
Onyx or Rock Crystal, Golden
Quartz Other lists include: Tourmaline, Sardonyx |
Peridot
|
Rock Cyrstal |
Virgo 23 August - 22 September |
Carnelian or Yellow Agate, Yellow
Citrine Other lists include: Jasper, Jade, Sapphire |
Carnelian
|
Citrine |
Libra 23 September - 22 October
|
Chysolite or Orange Citrine,
Smoky Quartz Other lists include: Opal, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot |
Opal Chrsolite |
Sapphire |
Scorpio 23 October - 21 November
|
Beryl or Blood-red Carnelian,
Sard Other lists include: Aquamarine, Topaz |
Aquamarine |
Garnet
|
Sagittarius 22 November - 21 December
|
Topaz or Blue Quartz, Chalcendony
Other lists include: Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise |
Topaz
|
Topaz |
Capricorn 22 December - 19 January
|
Ruby or Onyx, Quartz
Cat's eye Other lists include: Agate, Garnet |
Ruby |
Lapis Lazuli |
Aquarius 20 January - 18 February
|
Garnet or Hawk's
eye, Turquoise Other lists include: Moss Agate, Opal, Amethyst |
Garnet |
Turqouise |
Pisces 19 February - 20 March
|
Amethyst Other lists include: Rock Crystal, Sapphire, Bloodstone |
Amethyst |
Aquamarine |
Birthstones based on your birhtday month :
| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl or Moonstone |
| July | Ruby |
| August | Peridot |
| September | Sapphire |
| October | Opal or Pink Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz or Smoky Quartz |
| December | Turquoise or Blue Zircon |
Birthstones based on the days of the weeks :
| Sunday | Topaz |
| Monday | Pearl or Rock Crystal |
| Tuesday | Ruby or Emerald |
| Wednesday | Amethyst or Magnetite |
| Thursday | Sapphire or Carnelian |
| Friday | Emerald or Cat's eye |
| Saturday | Turquoise or Diamond |
Gemstones that display Optical Characteristics :
|
|
| Sunday | Sunstone |
| Monday | Moonstone |
| Tuesday | Star Sapphire |
| Wednesday | Star Ruby |
| Thursday | Cat's eye |
| Friday | Alexandrite |
| Saturday | Labradorite |
Birthstones based on Hours of Day :
1 AM |
Smoky Quartz |
1 PM |
Zircon |
2 AM |
Hematite |
2 PM |
Emerald |
3 AM |
Malachite |
3 PM |
Beryl |
4 AM |
Lapis-Lazuli |
4 PM |
Topaz |
5 AM |
Turquoise |
5 PM |
Ruby |
6 AM |
Tourmaline |
6 PM |
Opal |
7 AM |
Chrysolite |
7 PM |
Sardonyx |
8 AM |
Amethyst |
8 PM |
Chalcedony |
9 AM |
Kunzite |
9 PM |
Jade |
10 AM |
Sapphire |
10 PM |
Jasper |
11 AM |
Garnet |
11 PM |
Magnetite |
12 AM |
Diamond |
12 PM |
Onyx |