Birthstones - Sardonyx

A Cameo appearance

Onyx which is reddish brown and white is known as sardonyx. Sardonyx was highly valued in Rome, especially for seals, because it was said never to stick to the wax. Sardonyx is widely used in cameos and intaglios.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were very fond of sardonyx and believed it could bring courage and victory. Sardonyx was often engraved with images of relevant gods (such as Ares, Hercules or Mars) and carried into battle by soldiers who believed they would become as brave as the figures carved on these talismans. Away from the battlefield it was believed to lend the gift of persuasiveness to orators and leaders. The Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio was known for wearing it a good deal. Sard and its close relative carnelian have been used in engraved jewelry for centuries.