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Sardonyx is a type of chalcedony (a type of quartz) often used for cameos or intaglios. It contains red sard and white or tan bands of chalcedony arranged in parallel stripes. When sardonyx is completely black, it is known simply as onyx. Sardonyx is a very pretty, relatively inexpensive stone that is usually cut in convex form and polished (cabochons), then set into pendants or round beads, which can be strung. This stone was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans who believed that it brought them courage in battle. If you break your sardonyx, you might be able to repair it.
Instructions
1. Take the sardonyx to a jeweler to have it professionally restored if you broke a cameo or intaglio. Cameos are carved raised figures and intaglios are the opposite, carved set figures. Lots of antique sardonyx are hand carved.
2. Do not attempt to fix your cameo or intaglio yourself. If you find a jeweler who can help you, she will probably need all of the pieces of the stone so that she may be able to reassemble them with a jeweler's adhesive. This service may be very expensive. If your jeweler cannot recommend someone to restore your stone, contact your nearest fine art museum and ask for a recommendation. Museums that hold collections in ancient art are familiar with sardonyx restoration.
3. Reassemble your sardonyx yourself if you have a single broken bead on a string and the quality of the repair is not extremely important to you. A small drop of super glue will hold your broken bead back together. If you line up the halves or pieces correctly so that they match the same edges they broke at and you do not apply too much glue, you will barely see the cracks if the bead is one of several. Note that if your sardonyx is an heirloom, jewelers do not recommend super glue repairs.
4. Wash your sardonyx with some gentle dish detergent and a soft-headed toothbrush. Do not scrub your stone too hard. You may discover that what you thought was damage or a scratch was actually some dirt or grime. Dry the sardonyx carefully with a clean, dry towel.
5. Take your sardonyx to a jeweler to have it repolished if you have a cabochon you scratched or slightly damaged. Sardonyx has a hardness of seven on the Mohs scale (the scale used by gemologists to measure hardness) and it is possible for jewelers to polish slight damage away without damaging the stone.
6. Be aware that some sardonyx are actually dyed agates. If your sardonyx is actually an agate, repolishing it could negatively affect the dye and ruin your stone. The jeweler should be able to recognize whether your stone is dyed. Most jewelers do not have a lapidary service on the premises but will know who to send the stone to.
Tags: your sardonyx, your stone, broken bead, cameo intaglio, glue will