Rafie got me an Black Onyx ring that i was eyeing on for our 4th mth ani, it was funnie how he gave me the ring... I was rubbing the usual ring i had while we were watching Garfield 2 and he said take it off coz it seemed uncomfy for me, and suddenly after that he slipped on the ring he bought. He went to woodlands to get it, god am i touched >.<" thanks for everything! It totally smitten me >.< And he spent so much that day on me, i feel guilty X_X
Looks ugly in this pic =( will upload a nicer one! Anyway was looking up on black onyx on the net and this is what i got! Black Onyx Symbolism and Jewelry
Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, a type of quartz that is composed of layers of darker and clearer colours ranging from cream white, pale brown to reddish brown (a variety of onyx known as sardonyx) and black . More specifically, black onyx, known as black agate, is a black gem stone with thin stratums of white. Most stones found on the market originate from mines in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, India and Madagascar. Jewelry artists around the world appreciate black onyx because is particularly suitable for carving and engraving work.
Black onyx was a very popular and widespread gem in the Antiquity. It was called after the Greek word "onux" meaning "fingernail", because its cream white lines recall the colour of fingernails, and also because it is related to a symbolical legend. Indeed, in Greek and Roman mythology, EROS (or CUPID) visited his mother APHRODITE or VENUS, goddess of love and beauty, while she was sleeping, and trimmed her fingernails with the help of an arrow. The three FATES, who were assigned to give men and women life, destiny and death, collected the bits of fingernails and changed them into onyx stones, preventing even the lesser parts of the goddess’ body from decay.
Black onyx is believed to hold powerful properties related to protection and vigour. Warriors used to wear black onyx in order to be strong enough to defeat their adversaries. In most religions, rosaries (strings of beads that allow prayer counting) were made of black onyx over the centuries. In India, in the region of Agra, one can visit the Kanch Mahal where there is a black onyx statue of MAHAVIRA, who was a prince born in the sixth century BC. All his life long, he preached barefoot across India. His name is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "brave". Black onyx is also associated to witchcraft, and sometimes to black magic. In the post-Victorian Age, it became the mourning stone on memorial jewelry.
Black onyx gems can make very effective worry stones, which help people to get rid of their fears, anxieties, nightmares and recurrent thoughts: the person is supposed to hold the stone and visualise haunting thoughts being captured by it, and becoming harmless. It is advised to use fresh water to cleanse the stone, especially when given to somebody else or when it seems "full". Black onyx is believed to enhance sportspersons’ energy, when it is worn as a pendant near the solar plexus in particular. It has protective properties for couples, and it is a gem for self-control and self-centring. Nevertheless it may have a negative influence when it is worn too long, attracting sadness, fear and boredom.
Black onyx is widely used for cameo and intaglio carving, and jewelry artists often employ its elegant, shiny and dark features in order to enhance the qualities of brighter gem stones, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds etc… Sparkling flowery earring motifs with a black heart and colourful petals, classy gold rings studded with diamond and black onyx gems, or plain black onyx crystal point pendants: everyone can find his or her own black onyx treasure.
