Black Onyx Jewellery
Black onyx jewellery brings together the deep, opaque dark stones and precious metals seen across Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco pieces.
Black Onyx Jewellery
When you search for black onyx jewellery, you encounter rings, brooches, earrings and necklaces spanning the nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century. The selection ranges from Victorian mourning pieces and Edwardian drop earrings to geometric Art Deco platinum designs and later twentieth-century modernist creations.
You are most likely to meet rings and earrings featuring smooth polished hardstone alongside diamonds, pearls or marcasite. These pieces utilise gold in various carats, silver and platinum to frame the dark central material.
Materials and Techniques
Makers shaped black onyx and hardstone by cutting and polishing the dark material into cabochons, flat tablets or carved forms. These stones were then set into mounts of 9ct gold, 18ct yellow or white gold, platinum and silver.
Goldsmiths and jewellers integrated diamonds, seed pearls, marcasite and rock crystal quartz alongside the onyx, often employing intricate filigree, pierced settings or bow motifs to construct rings, brooches and pendants.
Black Onyx Jewellery Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for black onyx jewellery among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
The listings feature pieces spanning the nineteenth century through the 1970s, incorporating platinum, silver, and various carats of gold.
Distinctions in Quality
Quality rests upon the precision of the stone cutting, the crispness of the bezel or prong settings, and the harmony of the overall design. Finer pieces demonstrate careful integration of supplementary gems such as old-cut diamonds.
The choice of precious metal, from standard silver through to 18ct gold and platinum, distinguishes more substantial workshop productions from lighter everyday pieces.
Kutchinsky·Kria Gioielli·Cartier Paris·Chaumet
The Black Onyx Jewellery Glossary
- Onyx
- A variety of chalcedony quartz featuring parallel bands, utilised in jewellery for its uniform dark colour when treated or selected as black onyx.
- Cabochon
- A gemstone shaped with a smooth, rounded convex surface rather than faceted edges.
- Marcasite
- Small faceted iron pyrites polished and set closely together to provide a glittering steel-like sparkle in vintage silver mounts.
- Filigree
- Delicate ornamental work consisting of fine wire twisted and fused into openwork patterns.
- Mourning jewellery
- Pieces created to commemorate a deceased person, frequently incorporating black stones, hairwork or pearls during the Victorian era.
Black Onyx Jewellery: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for antique black onyx jewellery?
Clean these pieces gently with a soft cloth and avoid harsh chemical dips or ultrasonic cleaners that can damage fragile stone settings and softer gold mounts.
Store items individually in padded boxes to prevent the hardstone or surrounding diamonds from scratching adjacent pieces.
What periods do these pieces come from?
The selection encompasses Victorian and Edwardian items alongside significant Art Deco creations from the 1920s and 1930s. Mid-century and later modernist designs from the 1960s and 1970s also appear.
Each era brings distinct mounting styles, ranging from sentimental mourning brooches to geometric platinum cluster rings.
How can I tell an Art Deco piece apart?
Art Deco designs rely on strict geometric symmetry, sharp lines, and strong contrasts between black onyx and white metals like platinum or white gold. These pieces often incorporate calibrated diamonds and rock crystal.
Earlier Victorian or Edwardian examples tend to feature softer curves, yellow gold mounts, seed pearls, or sentimental motifs like bows and tassels.
Were these items worn daily?
Many rings, earrings and signet pieces were designed for everyday wear, utilising durable hardstone and sturdy gold bands. Others, such as large gemstone brooches or elaborate drop earrings, served primarily for evening wear and special occasions.
Heavier cocktail rings and matching necklace sets reflect the bolder fashion choices of the mid-twentieth century.