Onyx - discover the enigma of light in stone

Onyx is the only translucent, semi-precious natural stone, which since ancient times has enjoyed great popularity in various fields, from furnishings to luxury decorations, or even jewelry. This is due to the unique look, the unique color range, but also the fact that it is a very hard material. It looks like marble, but unlike it, it is translucent, so a nearby light source creates an impressive image. Onyx can be used as a building material (wall cladding, flooring, stairs) and as a decorative element (tables, sinks).

About onyx: Origins and legends
Onyx or Onix is a silicate mineral. It is a variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz and has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Onyx can be found in many parts of the world, including Yemen, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, and various parts of the U.S. The name "onyx" comes from the Greek onux, which is translated by the terms "nail" or "claw", this name comes from the legend of the formation of the stone - in fact, one of the best known in Greek mythology. It is said that one day Cupid, the god of love, used one of his arrows to cut the nails of his mother, Venus, while the beautiful goddess was sleeping. As they fell from Mount Olympus into the Indus River, they metamorphosed into onyx, being considered divine. It is known that this gemstone was common in ancient Egypt and it is also said that Queen Cleopatra herself used to wear black onyx for its protective properties and how it assimilates negative energies. Thus, near the negative energies, the crystal vibrates, warning the queen of a potential danger. The Romans used to go into battle wearing sardonix or onyx amulets, on which was engraved the god Mars, to give the soldiers courage and fearlessness. In addition to the many legends involving this stone, it is also found inside the famous Tugendhat villa in Brno, Czech Republic. Its construction was completed in 1930 by Miles van der Rohe and is one of the first representative prototypes for modern architecture. Inside, there is a wall made entirely of onyx tiles extracted from the Atlas Mountains, which changes its appearance under the rays of the sunset, due to their thickness that allows light to penetrate them.

Onyx and its characteristics
Special appearance
Onyx is a semi-precious stone, which is distinguished by the strong ribs that accentuate its unique colors. It is recommended only for interior design and is one of the favorite materials of designers, because the stone has the property of being translucent, which gives them the opportunity to play with lights and colors. Onyx stone is found in warm shades of gold, yellow or orange, and in cool colors such as green or blue. Due to its strong colors as well as complex patterns, this stone gives the whole room an extra touch of elegance and good taste.

Humidity and condensation are not an issue
Due to its composition, as well as the way it was born, onyx stone is a material that can be used in rooms with a higher humidity level. Thus, you can use onyx without any problems in the arrangement of the bathroom and kitchen, because the large amount of water and condensation caused by boiling water will not affect the onyx stone and will not damage its color or properties.

Total relaxation with the help of onyx stone
In addition to the unique look it offers to the home, onyx stone also has the property of giving you a state of relaxation. Even if you are a person who does not believe in such myths, its warm colors, combined with lights and unique patterns, will give you a state of peace.

Onyx stone - hardness and strength
Another advantage of using onyx stone in interior design is that it is a hard material, which does not degrade over time, does not lose its appearance and color and is not so sensitive to thermal or mechanical shocks. In terms of maintenance, onyx stone can be cleaned with the help of solutions specially designed for this type of material, which do not require a very large investment.

These are the reasons why onyx stone and, in general, any type of natural stone is one of the most sought after and appreciated materials used in home design.
P.S. A stock of semi-precious and selected Onyx Beige stone was delivered to the Art Granit warehouses. More details HERE