Description
Each sold separately.
Sardonyx can be traced back four thousand years to Ancient Egypt. For most of its history, this stone has been used to create cameos and intaglios. In Ancient Rome, women wore sardonyx necklaces with cameos of Venus in hopes of harnessing the power of the goddess of love. It was also common for soldiers to wear sardonyx rings and carvings containing images of Mars, the god of war, into battle as a means of protection. Sardonyx was also a popular stone for Roman seals and signet rings that were used to imprint wax emblems on official documents because hot wax doesn’t stick to this stone.
Sardonyx Metaphysical Properties:
Sardonyx is used as a stone of strength and protection since ancient times, sardonyx is associated with courage, happiness and clear communication. It brings lasting happiness and stability to marriage and partnerships. The spiritual values of red and white-banded and red bullseye sardonyx make these stones particularly powerful. In fact, they are said to allow one to project such an incredible charisma that many people suggest the stone be used with care to avoid overwhelming others. Wear them, they say, when you want extra power in a particular circumstance.
This stone combines alternating layers of sard and onyx; hence its name. Sard appears anywhere from a dark orange to red to almost black. Onyx, although thought by most to only appear in black, can appear in almost any color. These two types of the mineral chalcedony are paired in bands to create sardonyx. Also known as Sardian Onyx, it may be clearly banded or have a less defined mix of colors.
The best examples of sardonyx, which display sharp contrasts between the layers, are found in India. Other deposits include Brazil, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Madagascar, Uruguay and the United States.
Clean sardonyx using warm soapy water and a soft brush. Although it has a high hardness, sardonyx can still be scratched or damaged by gemstones with a higher hardness, as well as other materials. Avoid using household chemicals when cleaning sardonyx beads, components or jewelry. This stone can be sensitive to heat, especially dyed stones, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can fade color-enhanced types. Store sardonyx inside a fabric-lined box or wrapped in a soft cloth.
Each sold separately.
