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White Onyx – Meaning & Associations

White Onyx is a beautiful variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline quartz, known for its smooth, often translucent to opaque appearance. Its pristine white colour makes it a popular choice in jewellery

Raw White Onyx

Impression of the raw stone

“True strength lies not in what you see, but in the clarity with which you look.”

White Onyx is for those who find strength in clarity and peace in simplicity. For those who consciously choose a path of focus and clear perspective.

With its serene, milky-white appearance, White Onyx symbolises purity and focus. Traditionally, this stone is associated with protection, inner balance, and holding onto one's own vision.

Just like every natural stone, each White Onyx bead possesses its own subtle markings and translucency. This makes every bracelet unique.

Why people choose White Onyx

  • Traditionally associated with inner balance and focus
  • A stone that symbolises clarity and following one's own path
  • Bright, milky-white hues for a timeless and minimalist aesthetic
  • Versatile to combine with other styles due to its neutral colour
  • Each bead has a unique, gentle lustre and character

The Stone

  • Traditional Meaning: Clarity • Focus • Balance
  • Origin: Iran • Mexico • Brazil
  • Zodiac Sign: Leo

History

The name onyx comes from the Greek 'onux', meaning claw or fingernail. According to a classical myth, Cupid trimmed the fingernails of the sleeping goddess Venus. The gods allowed these to fall to earth and transformed them into stone, so that a part of divine beauty would never be lost.

In Roman and Greek antiquity, onyx was highly prized for carving cameos and intaglios. The milky-white layers of the stone served as a perfect backdrop to make detailed portraits and scenes stand out. The stone was regarded as a symbol of courage and self-control and was worn by Roman soldiers in battle.

Astrology & Moon

Within astrology, White Onyx is often linked to the zodiac sign Leo. In this tradition, Leo represents self-confidence, strength, and leadership, with the stone being regarded as a symbol for the focus needed to realise a clear vision.

Astrologically, onyx is also associated with the planet Saturn. In classical astrology, this planet symbolises discipline, structure, and perseverance – qualities that resonate with the traditional meaning of White Onyx as a stone of focus and inner strength.

Within Chakra Teachings

Within chakra teachings, onyx is traditionally linked to the first chakra, the Muladhara or Root Chakra. This energy centre, located at the base of the spine, symbolises stability, grounding, and a sense of security and physical connection.

Due to its white colour, White Onyx is also often associated with the seventh chakra, the Sahasrara or Crown Chakra. In Eastern philosophies, this chakra symbolises consciousness, spiritual connection, and the pursuit of clarity and insight on a higher, more universal level.

Interesting Facts

  • Onyx is a layered stone, which made it ideal for carving cameos. Artisans used the contrasting white and dark layers to create detailed, two-toned artworks.
  • While black onyx is the best-known variety, most black onyx on the market is obtained by dyeing grey chalcedony. Naturally white or layered onyx, however, is untreated.
  • Onyx is one of the few gemstones mentioned in the Bible, including as one of the stones in the high priest's breastplate and as a material found in the Garden of Eden.
  • The name 'white onyx' is sometimes also used for a type of striped calcite or marble, which is much softer than true onyx. The stone used in jewellery is the harder and more durable quartz variety.

Care

White Onyx is a variety of chalcedony and has a good hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The stone is reasonably scratch-resistant, but it is always advisable to store your bracelet separately from other, harder jewellery to protect its surface.

White Onyx is colourfast and can withstand normal daylight well. Nevertheless, it is advisable to remove your bracelet when showering, swimming, or exercising. Additionally, keep the stones away from aggressive chemicals such as perfume, soap, and lotions to protect their lustre and the elastic.

To keep your bracelet looking its best, you can simply wipe the beads clean with a soft, dry cloth after wearing. This removes skin oils and dust and ensures that the stone's serene appearance is maintained.

View the White Onyx bracelet in the shop →

Pairs Beautifully With

Onyx · Howlite


A Note on Meaning: the properties on this page describe what this stone has traditionally symbolised and with what it is associated within traditions and astrology. Mad Monk Jewelry makes no claims: we do not promise that a stone has a specific effect or power, or that it will bring about any particular outcome for you. What we do promise: a natural gemstone, carefully selected and hand-finished.

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