The name onyx means "claw" or "nail," likely a reference to its black color. Used for millennia, onyx was prized by the ancient Egyptians for making scarabs and amulets. The Greeks and Romans incorporated it into their jewelry, believing in its protective properties. In the Middle Ages, onyx was often engraved to create seals and intaglios, adding an artistic dimension to its functional use.
It was in England, during the Victorian era, that onyx became very fashionable again. In order to respect the mourning fashion, such as that worn for 40 years by Queen Victoria, the color was banned and black onyx began to be used in jewelry.
