By Chisom Ibemere
Sardonyx has a long history and had been in existence since four thousand years ago. It was highly valued in ancient times. It was used for carving cameos and intaglios by the Greeks and Romans. Sardonyx was also used to decorate medieval churches and cathedrals.
The name “sardonyx” was gotten from the Greek word “sard” meaning reddish-brown and “onyx” which means claw or nail. It is found in many parts of the world, including Brazil, India, Germany, Uruguay, Russia, and the United States.
Sardonyx is believed to be a stone of strength and protection since ancient times. It is associated with courage, happiness and clear communication. It is primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry. It is used for decoration of cufflinks, tie tacks, and other men’s jewellery. It is also used in carving cameos and intaglios.
Sardonyx is one of the varieties of chalcedony, which is a microcrystalline form of quartz. It has a mohs hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable and suitable for use. It is composed of alternating layers of sard and onyx, which produces a distinctive banded appearance.
Sardonyx is a brownish, reddish-brown or black stone and has a waxy to vitreous luster. It is a relatively affordable gemstone and is priced according to its quality and size. The value of sardonyx is highly dependent on the color of the stone, with reddish-brown stones bearing more value. However, lower quality stones can be found for low prices.
