Agate Sterling

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Frequently Asked Questions...

Are Black Onyx and Black Agate The Same?

Would like to get a black onyx men's ring in sterling silver. I really cannot afford gold at this time, but would like to know black onyx is suitable for a silver ring. Is the gemstone durable enough for a men's ring, I would use a large size ring of 12 and would expect to have a large black onyx gem stone mounted in it. Any suggestions or advice would be highly appreciated.


Answer:

Hi, most black onyx that you see in gemstone or jewelry stores is treated to get a uniform black color. Black onyx when it is dug up (mined) would normally have white streaks in the gemstone. This is the natural form in which black onyx is found. Black agate is agate that is dyed black and often sold as black onyx. This issue becomes relevant if you specifcally need a black onyx gemstone, in this case black dyed agate would surely not be acceptable. There is a third black gemstone that is sometimes confused for black onyx and that is black spinel. Black spinel and black onyx are both mined in Thailand. Black spinel gets a better gloss after polish as compared to black onyx. Black spinel does not need any color enhancing treatment as the gemstone is naturally found in a dark black form. Black onyx is a good choice for a men's ring as, it is durable and economical. You will therefore find many men's black onyx rings in sterling silver and gold. When you do choose a design, try not to select one where the gemstone is raised too high above the silver or gold mounting. This high profile makes the black onyx more likely to be damaged by physical impact. Most of this information was got from the link mentioned below, you could also see some design suggestions for your black onyx men's ring.

SR44984 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR44984 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 COPPER AGATE RING SIZE 8 925 STERLING SILVER I910
COPPER AGATE RING SIZE 8 925 STERLING SILVER I910
US $9.99
 SR44936 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR44936 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
 BLUE LACE AGATE .925 STERLING SILVER RING,SILVERRUSH2000s 8 ;7
BLUE LACE AGATE .925 STERLING SILVER RING,SILVERRUSH2000s 8 ;7
US $40.00
NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 8 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 8 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
US $.99
 COPPER AGATE RING SIZE 8 925 STERLING SILVER I903
COPPER AGATE RING SIZE 8 925 STERLING SILVER I903
US $9.99
 NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 5 100% SOLID .925 STERLING SILVER STAMPED 925
NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 5 100% SOLID .925 STERLING SILVER STAMPED 925
US $3.99
 Purple Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Purple Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
US $7.99
Slice Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Slice Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
US $7.99
 Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 5 1/2
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 5 1/2
US $7.99
 Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 3/4
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 3/4
US $7.99
 Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
US $7.99
Blue Lace Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 1/2
Blue Lace Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 1/2
US $7.99
 Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
US $7.99
 Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 1/4
Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 1/4
US $8.99
 Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 9
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 9
US $7.99
Blue Lace Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8 1/2
Blue Lace Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8 1/2
US $7.99
 Slice Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 9
Slice Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 9
US $7.99
 Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 10 1/4
Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 10 1/4
US $8.99
 SR42210 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR42210 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7 3/4
Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7 3/4
US $7.99
 SR45020 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
SR45020 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
US $7.99
 NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 7 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 7 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
US $.99
 Blue Lace Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Blue Lace Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
US $7.99
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 1/2
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 1/2
US $7.99
 Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6
Agate Druzy .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6
US $7.99
 Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8 3/4
Pink Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 8 3/4
US $7.99
 Vintage Light Green Lace Agate Sterling Silver 925 Ring Size 5¾ 6 Grams 1 1/8
Vintage Light Green Lace Agate Sterling Silver 925 Ring Size 5¾ 6 Grams 1 1/8"
US $34.99
SR44943 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5
SR44943 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5
US $7.99
 SR48498 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8.5
SR48498 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8.5
US $7.99
 NATURAL BLUE LACE AGATE RING SZ 7 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
NATURAL BLUE LACE AGATE RING SZ 7 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
US $.99
 SR41354 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR41354 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
SR42346 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR42346 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 SR45013 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR45013 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
 SR39780 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
SR39780 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
US $7.99
 NATURAL BLUE LACE AGATE SZ 6 RING 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
NATURAL BLUE LACE AGATE SZ 6 RING 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
US $.99
SR48344 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR48344 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 Ring Pink Lace Agate gemstone .925 Sterling Silver size 6 3/4
Ring Pink Lace Agate gemstone .925 Sterling Silver size 6 3/4
US $16.17
 SR39850 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR39850 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 SR48522 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8
SR48522 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8
US $7.99
BIG SPARKLY DRUZY BLACK AGATE STERLING ADJUSTABLE RING!
BIG SPARKLY DRUZY BLACK AGATE STERLING ADJUSTABLE RING!
US $80.00
 SR44885 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR44885 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 SR39433 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR39433 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 SR39445 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
SR39445 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
US $7.99
SR48518 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8.5
SR48518 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8.5
US $7.99
 SR45050 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7.5
SR45050 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7.5
US $7.99
 Sterling Silver & Picture Agate Ring Size 5.25
Sterling Silver & Picture Agate Ring Size 5.25
US $55.00
 SR43145 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8
SR43145 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8
US $7.99
Sterling Silver 925 Ring with Green Agate & Gold 9Ct
Sterling Silver 925 Ring with Green Agate & Gold 9Ct
US $82.00
 STERLING SILVER 925 RING WITH AGATE
STERLING SILVER 925 RING WITH AGATE
US $45.00
 SR45026 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR45026 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
 SR48500 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
SR48500 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
US $7.99
SR48530 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
SR48530 BOTSWANA AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
US $7.99
 925 sterling ,Green agate ladies ring.
925 sterling ,Green agate ladies ring.
US $175.00
 SR44913 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
SR44913 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
US $7.99
 Sterling 925 and Ruby agate ladies Ring.
Sterling 925 and Ruby agate ladies Ring.
US $145.00
Aqua Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 3/4
Aqua Botswana Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 3/4
US $7.99
 Brown Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7 1/4
Brown Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 7 1/4
US $7.99
 Vintage STERLING Silver Carnelian Agate RING Size 6.5
Vintage STERLING Silver Carnelian Agate RING Size 6.5
US $29.88
 SR35383 FANCY AGATE DRUZY & RED CORAL 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR35383 FANCY AGATE DRUZY & RED CORAL 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
SR45001 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR45001 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
 Large Chunky & Thick 925 Sterling & Agate Rectangle Ring Sz 6 -Earthtones
Large Chunky & Thick 925 Sterling & Agate Rectangle Ring Sz 6 -Earthtones
US $18.00
 SR44917 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR44917 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
 SR40287 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
SR40287 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
US $7.99
SR44896 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
SR44896 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.5.5
US $7.99
 Dandrite Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 3/4
Dandrite Agate .925 Sterling Silver Ring Size 6 3/4
US $7.99
 SR39810 PINK AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
SR39810 PINK AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6
US $7.99
 SR44948 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
SR44948 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
US $7.99
SIZE 6.5 Red Agate Sterling Silver Plated Vintage ST Ring g251
SIZE 6.5 Red Agate Sterling Silver Plated Vintage ST Ring g251
US $.99
 SR43617 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
SR43617 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.7
US $7.99
 SR39382 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8
SR39382 AGATE DRUZY 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.8
US $7.99
 SIZE 6.5 Lace White Agate Sterling Silver Plated Vintage ST Ring g249
SIZE 6.5 Lace White Agate Sterling Silver Plated Vintage ST Ring g249
US $.99
Green Lace Agate REAL .925 STERLING SILVER RING SIZE 6.5
Green Lace Agate REAL .925 STERLING SILVER RING SIZE 6.5
US $35.95
 LARGE BLUE LACE AGATE REAL .925 STERLING SILVER RING SIZE 7.5
LARGE BLUE LACE AGATE REAL .925 STERLING SILVER RING SIZE 7.5
US $37.95
 SR37314 FIRE AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
SR37314 FIRE AGATE 925 STERLING SILVER RING JEWELRY s.6.5
US $7.99
 NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 9 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
NATURAL DENDRITIC AGATE RING SZ 9 925 STERLING SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER
US $.99

Agate Sterling

Jay King Moss Agate Sterling Silver Shield-Shaped Button...

Agate - Common Stone Uncommon Beauty

Agates are primarily composed of silica or silicon dioxide, the same material that makes up sand that occurs across the globe. Silica is known to be the single most abundant mineral on the planet, and since agates are mostly silica, it stands to reason that these stones can be found on all five continents and on dozens of countries. Millions of years ago, water flowing on the surface of the earth and through crevices in rocks dissolved silica. This solution then collected in cavities within the rock formation. As the water evaporated away, salt deposits were left behind. The salts were deposited in layers of varying thickness, each layer containing secondary minerals or impurities (besides by primary mineral silica) which influenced the color of the layer. The presence of chromium in the solution caused the layer to be green in color. Copper salts on the other hand gave the layer a blue color, and iron compounds resulted in colors ranging from burnt orange to brown. In geologic time (millions to tens of millions of years) and under intense heat and pressure, the salts became petrified and formed stones as we see them today. Although agates were formed at multiple locations under a wide variety of conditions, the common factors that were required to develop agates were a source of silica-rich volcanic ash, groundwater or surface runoff that could dissolve the silica, and secondary minerals that were responsible for the colored layers of the stone.

Agates are often used in fashion jewelry where the goal is to create pieces that are beautiful and trendy and yet affordable. The demand for agates can generally be attributed to two primary reasons, both of which relate to the abundance with which this stone occurs in nature. Firstly, because of the way in which these stones formed over a wide range of conditions, the patterns and colors that occur in nature are virtually limitless. So there is always a fairly steady supply of agates in a variety of colors and patterns to suite virtually any jewelry application. Secondly, since agates are found in great abundance, they are relatively inexpensive, which makes them ideally suited for fashion jewelry.

In the world of fashion jewelry, there are a few varieties of agates that deserve special mention. At the top of that list are Botswana agates. These stones are known for their bright colors and interesting banded patterns. Botswana agates are usually cut in cabochon form, polished to a high sheen and set in sterling silver settings to make some truly stunning silver pendants. A noteworthy variety of agates are fire agates. These stones can range in color from bright flaming orange to a more subdued brownish orange. The colors are due to the iron content of the stone. Fire agates are found predominantly in Mexico, although some minor finds have been identified in parts of Central America as well. Cyclops agates have an interesting natural pattern. These agates are formed by deposition of alternate layers of black (or nearly black) and off white to white silica. The stones are cut to expose concentric circles that resemble a single eye; hence the name. Finally, petrified wood deserves mention as being one of the more unusual forms of agates.

As the stone was being formed millions of years ago, the silica solution entrapped materials like wood, leaves and other organic matter. With time, this organic matter decomposed and was replaced by minerals of different colors. Today, petrified wood has the visual appearance of the organic matter, but has the physical characteristics of rock. Cut and polished properly, petrified wood can be used to make interesting beads for fashion jewelry.

About the Author

Dale Arnold is a geo-professional in the Southwest. He is an amateur gemologist and specializes in sterling silver jewelry. He has an online web store that sells beautiful sterling pendants, necklaces, earrings and other fashion jewelry.

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