About OnyxIt all started with a manicureAccording to the ancient Greek story, one day Cupid decided to trim Venus’ fingernails while she was sleeping. He left the clippings scattered on the sand, where the Fates turned them into onyx so that no part of the goddess’s body would ever disappear. Today, onyx is treasured for its deep black color. Onyx is an alternative birthstone to blue topaz for December. Color and pedigreeMost onyx is deep, opaque black, and sometimes it can have white bands running through it. Brazil, India, Madagascar and Uruguay are leading producers. Taking it homeOnyx rates a 6 1/2 to 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. It is moderately resistant to scratches and resists chipping and breaking well. You can clean onyx jewelry with liquid jewelry cleaner or just mild soapy detergent and water. Ultrasonic cleaners are usually safe. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on onyx. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
