Faceted Teardrop Black Onyx with rose cut, 5 pieces to choose from between 29 and 30.8 mm (thickness 4-5 mm). Intense and homogeneous black, faceted dome with a satin sheen and a flat back. The teardrop silhouette - rounded end and pointed tip - is the classic shape for drop pendants and linear earrings in 925 silver.
Piece Details
| Mineral |
Black Onyx (chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz) |
| Dimensions |
nr.1: 30.8 x 5 mm – nr.2/3/5: 30.8 x 4 mm – nr.4: 29.8 x 4 mm |
| Shape and Back |
Teardrop (pear), faceted dome (rose cut), flat back |
| Finish |
Mirror polish on facets and back |
| Hardness |
6.5-7 Mohs - suitable for everyday pendants and earrings |
| Origin |
Material acquired in wholesale market |
| Treatment |
Treated - the intense and uniform black is obtained by heating and impregnation, a standard process in market black onyx |
| Piece Type |
5 pieces available, choose by variant number |
This specific selection
The teardrop silhouette has a natural direction: the rounded end upwards and the point downwards is the most frequent setting for pendants, because gravity orientates the piece itself and the point draws the eye to the lower vertex. Oriented with the point upwards, it functions as a standard pear cabochon in a ring or earring.
The five pieces have very similar dimensions (between 29 and 30 mm in length, 8 mm in width). The difference between nr.1 (5 mm thick) and the rest (4 mm) is relevant if the design has low-profile restrictions.
What setting it works for
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Teardrop bezel pendant (925 silver) - perimeter bezel with integrated bail at the rounded end; gravity orientates the point downwards.
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Long earrings in a pair - black contrasts with any skin tone; choose two variants of the same dimension.
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Solitaire ring - the point oriented towards the nail lengthens the finger; perimeter bezel with point protection.
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Wire wrap - tight wrapping at the rounded end with the point free.
Black onyx in jewelry tradition
Black chalcedony appears in Roman seals from the 1st century AD and was a protagonist of Victorian mourning jewelry alongside jet. Impregnation treatment has been documented since antiquity and standardized by GIA and CIBJO as standard practice. It is culturally associated with protection and mental clarity. Symbolic properties shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice.
How to recognize genuine black onyx
The uniform black is the result of the standard impregnation process. Compared to glass (bubbles under magnification, vitreous fracture), chalcedony has a microcrystalline texture at 10x and irregular fracture. Compared to obsidian, it lacks the vitreous luster and marked conchoidal fracture.
Frequently asked questions
Is black onyx treated?
Yes. The intense black is obtained by heating and chemical impregnation, a standard process recognized by GIA and CIBJO as common practice in market black onyx.
How do I choose between the 5 pieces?
Select the variant number according to thickness: nr.1 is 5 mm, the rest are 4 mm. In length, nr.4 measures 29 mm and the others 30 mm. For earrings in pairs, choose two variants of the same dimension.
Does the teardrop silhouette have a defined orientation?
The teardrop has a rounded end and a pointed end. In pendants, the rounded end goes up with the bail and the point remains free downwards. In a ring, the point can be oriented towards the nail. The goldsmith decides.
What is the possible variation in dimensions?
The declared measurements are factory measurements. There may be ±0.5 mm in any dimension as it is natural material.
How do I care for black onyx in jewelry?
Soft, slightly damp cloth; avoid chemical products, prolonged ultrasound, and intense heat. See jewelry care guide.
See also: cabochons for jewelry – pendants – handmade earrings.
