Natural Onyx Stone in Pakistan

Coming soon

Onyx is not listed yet. We are sourcing natural stones and will add each one separately, with its own photographs, after it passes our checks. Message us on WhatsApp with the size or shape you want, or email hello@authenticgems.pk, and we will contact you when a suitable stone comes in. Our contact page has the other ways to reach us.

What onyx is

Onyx belongs to the chalcedony family, the same fine-grained quartz as agate (Aqeeq), and rates about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. What separates the two is the banding: agate usually shows curved, concentric bands, while onyx has straight, parallel layers. Classic onyx is black and white, and sardonyx has red-brown and white layers. Because the layers differ in colour, onyx has been carved into cameos and engraved seals for thousands of years.

Natural black onyx or dyed agate?

Truly black natural chalcedony is rare. Most black onyx anywhere is grey or pale agate soaked in a sugar solution and then treated with acid, which leaves carbon in the pores and turns the stone an even, permanent black. The method is centuries old and the colour is stable, but the stone should still be described honestly, as dyed black onyx or dyed black agate. What to look for:

• Dyed stone: a deep, perfectly even jet black with no banding, even with a strong torch behind a thin edge.
• Natural black chalcedony: may show faint banding, slight variation in tone, or a little translucency at a thin edge.
• Black glass: may show round bubbles, mould marks or rounded edges, and warms quickly in the hand.
• Plastic: light, warm to the touch and easily scratched.

A lab can confirm chalcedony and often detect dye. See checking a gemstone before you buy and spotting dyed and glass Aqeeq.

Onyx and Balochistan "onyx marble"

Pakistan is well known for green and honey-banded "onyx" carved into bowls, vases and tiles, much of it from Balochistan, including the Chagai area. That is banded calcite, usually called onyx marble, not gem onyx. It is far softer, around 3 on the Mohs scale, can be scratched with a steel blade and fizzes in weak acid. Lovely for decorative pieces, but not a ring stone.

Onyx, black agate and Sulemani

The names overlap in the trade. Black agate is usually the same material as black onyx under another name. Sulemani agate is banded agate with black, white or brown layers, close to onyx and sardonyx, and especially valued in Pakistan. Other family members include Aqeeq, chalcedony and white agate.

Treatments

Dyeing is standard for black onyx, and some banded stones are dyed to sharpen the contrast. Bleaching is occasionally used to whiten the light layers. When we list onyx, we will state any treatment we know of.

What makes one stone worth more

In black onyx, a deep, even black and a high, glassy polish matter most. In banded onyx and sardonyx, crisp, straight, well-contrasted layers are preferred. Freedom from cracks and chips comes next, and so does finish, since flat tablets for men's rings and engraved stones need clean edges and a level face. Natural colour, where proven, adds interest. Onyx is generally affordable; see our gemstone price guide and the stones listed under 5,000 rupees.

Care

Onyx is hard enough for rings but slightly porous. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, and keep perfume, oils and strong chemicals away, as they can mark the surface or affect dyed colour. Skip ultrasonic cleaners and store it apart from harder stones.

Onyx in tradition

In many families black stones such as onyx and black agate are worn for protection against nazar and as a steadying stone, usually in silver. In some astrological practice, dark stones are associated with Saturn (Shani). These are beliefs and customs, not promised outcomes. For any religious question about wearing a stone, please ask a scholar you trust. See gemstones for protection and black gemstones.

Choosing onyx for a ring

Flat tablets and low cabochons are the classic shapes for men's onyx rings, often in silver and sometimes engraved with a name or initials. Check that the stone sits level, that the bezel holds it without gaps, and that the polish is even right to the edge. See gemstone rings for men and chandi rings with stone.

Black and banded stones you can order now

Browse black agate, Sulemani agate and hematite.

Once onyx is listed, you will be able to order it on Cash on Delivery anywhere in Pakistan, open the parcel and look at the stone in front of the rider before paying, and return it within 7 days if it is not right. Orders are dispatched within 1 working day of confirmation by insured, tracked courier for a flat Rs. 500 per order, usually reaching Karachi in 1 to 2 working days, Lahore, Islamabad and other major cities in 2 to 4, and smaller towns within about 7.