Hardness: 7.0
Refractive Index: 1.53-1.54
Specific Gravity: 2.61
Birthstone: July, August, September
Astral Stone: Scorpio, Virgo
Anniversary Stone:
Origination: Pakistan, although sardonyx can be found worldwide.
Care & Cleaning: To clean, rub lightly with a soft polishing cloth. An optional dab of olive oil will produce a beautiful shine.
Fiction, Facts & Folklore:
Sardonyx is a member of the chalcedony mineral group.
Sardonyx combines the reddish-brown color of sard with the white bands of onyx for a most unusual and distinct look.
Sardonyx is most often seen in bead form, although some material is still seen today in the carving of artifacts, broaches and cameos. In fact, the first cameos ever found were carved from sardonyx.
Sardonyx is sometimes called "the fancy wallpaper of nature".
Sardonyx was believed by early astrologers to be a gift to the earth from the planet Saturn. This was no doubt attributed to its multi-colored bands.
Sardonyx has also been linked to the planet Mars.