Omar Khalid
Onyx is a highly sought-after gemstone, but its popularity has led to an increase in counterfeits. Fake onyx is often made from plastic, glass, resin, or lightweight artificial stone, which are cheaper and easier to obtain. To identify real onyx, it is important to examine its appearance, texture, weight, and response to scratch and heat tests. Real onyx has a distinctive waxy or vitreous luster, a well-polished surface, and may exhibit parallel bands of white and black lines. It feels smooth and cool to the touch, with a significant weight, and is challenging to scratch with materials lower on the Mohs scale. In contrast, fake onyx made of plastic may feel lighter, have a less smooth surface, and scratch easily.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Weight | Real onyx is heavier than plastic imitations |
| Texture | Real onyx has a smooth, waxy feel. Plastic imitations may feel lighter and more like a toy |
| Shine | Real onyx has a waxy shine. Plastic imitations are often too shiny or glossy |
| Scratches | Real onyx is harder to scratch. Plastic imitations are softer and easier to scratch |
| Temperature | Real onyx stays cool to the touch. Plastic warms up more quickly |
| Colour | Real onyx has multiple colour varieties, including white and black bands. Plastic imitations are often dyed black |
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What You'll Learn
Weigh the stone: Real onyx is heavier than plastic
Weighing the stone is a good way to tell real onyx from plastic. Real onyx is heavier than plastic, so if the stone feels lighter than expected, it may be fake. This is because real stones are usually denser and heavier than things that look like stones but are not.
Fake onyx can be made from plastic or lightweight artificial stone, which are cheaper and easier to obtain, so they are often used to make imitations. These materials don't weigh as much as real onyx, so the weight of the stone can be a good indicator of its authenticity.
To test the weight of the stone, simply pick it up and feel its weight. If it feels surprisingly light, it may be a fake. Real onyx should feel solid and a bit heavy for its size.
It is important to note that this test may not be definitive on its own, and other tests should be performed in conjunction to more accurately determine the authenticity of the stone. For example, a heat test can be performed by warming the stone with a lighter for ten seconds before placing it in water. If the stone does not alter in any way, it is likely to be real onyx. Alternatively, the stone can be held to the face or another part of the body, and if it warms up from body heat, it is likely to be plastic.
Additionally, a scratch test can be performed to determine the hardness of the stone. If the stone is made of plastic, it will be softer and easier to scratch with a fingernail, coin, or knife. Real onyx will be harder to scratch and will require a harder material to leave a mark.
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Feel its surface: Real onyx has a waxy texture, unlike plastic
When trying to determine whether an onyx is real, one of the key things to pay attention to is its surface texture. Real black onyx has a waxy texture, unlike plastic, which tends to be too glossy or shiny. A genuine onyx will have a waxy lustre, with a soft, glowing shine, rather than a sharp, mirror-like reflection.
The texture of the onyx's surface can be a good indicator of its authenticity. Real onyx will have a very smooth surface when polished, without any bumps or rough patches. It will feel slick and waxy to the touch, almost like wax or polished glass. However, it should not feel too slippery. If the onyx feels too plastic-like or glassy, it may be a sign of a fake.
Another important factor to consider is the weight of the onyx. Real onyx is dense and has a weighted feeling when held in the palm of your hand. It stays cool to the touch, even in a warm room, due to its high thermal conductivity. Plastic, on the other hand, will feel surprisingly light and warm up more quickly. This difference in weight and temperature can help distinguish real onyx from plastic imitations.
To further ensure the authenticity of the onyx, you can perform a scratch test. Real onyx has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, which means it is fairly hard and challenging to scratch. Try scratching the surface with your fingernail or a coin. If these don't work, carefully use a standard kitchen knife. If the onyx cannot be scratched by these items, it is likely genuine. Plastic imitations will be much softer and easier to scratch.
Additionally, you can try a water test by placing a drop of water on the onyx's surface. Real onyx has a dense structure, so the water will slowly get absorbed or evaporate. Fake onyx, made of non-porous materials, may not absorb the water at all.
By examining the surface texture, weight, hardness, and performing simple tests, you can increase your chances of identifying whether the onyx is real or plastic.
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Inspect its appearance: Plastic is often too shiny or glossy
Inspecting the appearance of a stone is a good way to identify whether it is real onyx or plastic. Real onyx has a waxy, soft, glowing shine, whereas plastic is often too shiny or glossy. The stone should have a well-polished and reflective surface, but not a sharp, mirror-like reflection. It should also be free from cracks and scratches and may present with parallel bands of white and black lines.
Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline type of quartz that comes in a variety of forms, colours, and patterns. It has a refractive index of 1.544-1.553 and comes in multiple colour varieties from banded white to black. It scores a seven on the hardness index and is extremely wearable, which makes it a good choice for a first semiprecious stone.
Black onyx is a flat-layered variety of chalcedony and displays unique parallel layers of black and white bands throughout the semi-precious stone. It is important to note that natural onyx comes in a variety of colours, including red, green, blue, gold, brown, and black. The colouring process of onyx involves the application of a sugar solution and allowing it to react with sulphur. However, this process does not change the onyx from the surface to its core, so you will only have a few millimetres of black onyx before the colour begins to change.
It is also worth noting that black onyx is quite rare, and there are plenty of black onyxes on the market. Manufacturers dye the onyx to achieve this colour. If you can remember, onyx is notable for its multiple colour bands, and when this semiprecious stone is harvested, it is possible to carve specific colour layers and apply the dye.
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Try a scratch test: Plastic is softer and easier to scratch
Plastic is a common material used to make fake onyx. These imitations are much softer and easier to scratch than real onyx. Real onyx has a hardness of seven on the hardness index.
To test whether your onyx is real, you can try a scratch test. First, try scratching the surface with your fingernail. If it scratches easily, it is definitely not onyx. You can then try using a coin to scratch the surface. If this also scratches the surface, it is not onyx. If neither of these work, you can try using a standard kitchen knife. If the surface still cannot be scratched, this is a good sign that your onyx is real.
It is important to note that if you are testing a decorative piece, you may want to try these scratch tests on a hidden area of the onyx, such as the back or underside, to avoid visible scratches.
While the scratch test is a useful method, it is important to combine it with other identification methods, such as examining the weight, feel, shine, and temperature of the onyx, to determine whether it is real or fake.
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Check its temperature: Plastic warms up more quickly
Onyx is a semi-precious stone that has been admired and traded for centuries. It is a variety of chalcedony with a hexagonal microcrystalline inner structure and a refractive index of 1.544-1.553. It comes in multiple colours, from banded white to black, and has a waxy, not glassy, lustre. It is rated between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, meaning it is a fairly hard stone that can scratch glass or a steel blade, but not as hard as a diamond, ruby, or sapphire.
Due to its beauty and rarity, onyx is often imitated using synthetic materials such as plastic or glass. These fake stones are often shaped and coloured to look very similar to real onyx. However, there are some key differences between real and fake onyx that can help you determine whether the stone you have is genuine. One of these is checking its temperature: plastic warms up more quickly than onyx.
Onyx, like other gemstones, will feel cool to the touch, even if it has been in a warm room. This is due to its high thermal conductivity. Synthetic materials like plastic or glass tend to warm up more quickly and retain heat longer than natural stones. So, if the stone you are holding feels warm to the touch, it is more likely to be made of plastic or glass.
It is important to note that this temperature test should not be the only method used to determine the authenticity of onyx. It should be used in conjunction with other tests such as checking the colour, hardness, weight, and transparency of the stone. For example, genuine onyx can have small pits, lines, or other natural surface features, while fake onyx made of plastic may be perfectly smooth with no imperfections. Additionally, real onyx will block some light but not all of it, whereas fake onyx made of plastic may be too transparent or opaque.
By using a combination of these tests, you can more confidently determine whether the onyx you have is real or fake. If you are ever in doubt, it is best to consult a qualified gemmologist who can accurately assess the authenticity of the stone.
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Frequently asked questions
Real onyx has a smooth, waxy feel and a waxy, soft shine. It is scratch-resistant, cool to the touch, and has a weight that is usually heavier than plastic.
Fake onyx is often made from plastic or glass, which are cheaper materials. These fakes can be spotted by their overly shiny or glossy appearance, and they may have tiny scratches or a less smooth surface.
The best way to ensure you are buying genuine onyx is to buy from reputable dealers and request certification. You can also compare the weight of the onyx to a similar-sized stone of known composition, like quartz.
You can try the scratch test by attempting to scratch the surface of the onyx with a fingernail, coin, or knife. Real onyx is quite hard and scratch-resistant, so it should not be easily scratched. You can also try the heat test by placing the onyx near your lips and feeling if it warms up quickly, which would indicate it is glass or plastic.
Onyx has a distinctive appearance with parallel bands of white and black lines. It has a well-polished, reflective surface that is free from cracks and scratches. It has a waxy luster, an opaque transparency, and may appear glossy when polished.
