Black gemstones include black tourmaline, obsidian, onyx, black spinel, smoky quartz, jet, hematite and black diamond. Across crystal traditions they stand for protection, grounding and strength. They also go with everything you own.
Here are the names, what each stone actually is, what people believe about it, and how to wear it. I'm a jeweler, so I'll start with the ones I work with.
In this post
- Black gemstones at a glance
- Black gemstone names: the ones I work with
- More black stones and crystals to know
- What do black gemstones mean?
- Which black gemstone is best for everyday wear?
- Are black gemstones naturally black?
- A little ritual for a black stone
- Quick answers
Black gemstones at a glance
Thirteen black stones, what they're made of, and how hard they are. Hardness is the Mohs scale, 1 to 10. Higher means harder to scratch.
| Stone | What it is | Hardness | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black tourmaline | Iron-rich crystal with ridges down its length | 7 to 7.5 | Protection |
| Obsidian | Volcanic glass | 5 to 5.5 | Truth, protection |
| Smoky quartz | Quartz, from pale tea to nearly black | 7 | Grounding |
| Black spinel | A naturally black crystal with a bright shine | 8 | Renewal |
| Anthraxolite quartz | Clear quartz with black carbon sealed inside | 7 (the quartz) | Light and dark together |
| Tektite | Natural glass made by an asteroid impact | 5 to 6 | Transformation |
| Dark pearl | An organic gem grown inside a mollusk | 2.5 to 4 | Wisdom |
| Black onyx | Black chalcedony, usually dyed | 6.5 to 7 | Willpower |
| Black diamond | Diamond crowded with dark inclusions | 10 | Strength |
| Black sapphire | Sapphire so dark it reads as black | 9 | Steadiness |
| Jet | Fossilized wood | 2.5 to 4 | Remembrance |
| Hematite | Iron oxide with a metallic, gunmetal shine | 5.5 to 6.5 | Grounding |
| Black opal | Opal with a dark body and flashes of color | 5 to 6.5 | Creativity |
Black gemstone names: the ones I work with
These are the black stones I like to work with. I love choosing the perfect angle of raw stones to set, and my faceted ones sparkle darkly on their own in my settings.
Black tourmaline
Opaque, jet black, with ridges running down its length like corduroy. Its mineral name is schorl, and it's the most common tourmaline there is.
Traditionally believed to:
- Protect. It's the best-known protective stone there is.
- Ground you, back into your body and onto your feet.
- Hold a boundary. Not everything is yours to absorb.
Read the full guide: black tourmaline meaning, properties and everyday uses.
Obsidian
Obsidian is volcanic glass. Lava cools so fast that crystals never get the chance to form. It breaks with an edge sharper than steel, which is why people have been knapping it into blades and arrowheads for thousands of years.
Traditionally believed to:
- Show you the truth, including the parts you'd rather skip.
- Shield you from other people's moods.
- Help you cut ties with what's finished.
It isn't always plain black. Gold sheen obsidian has a shimmer that only shows when the light hits it.
Smoky quartz
Quartz with a tan. It runs from pale tea to nearly black, and the darkest pieces have their own name: morion. It's the black stone for people who find black a bit much.
Traditionally believed to:
- Ground you when you feel scattered.
- Help you set down what you've been carrying.
- Keep a steady, quiet mind.
Read the full guide: smoky quartz meaning, properties and everyday uses.
Black spinel
The quiet overachiever of black stones. Spinel is naturally black, it takes a bright shine, and at 8 on the Mohs scale it's harder than quartz.
Traditionally believed to:
- Bring a sense of renewal after a hard stretch.
- Keep you centered in the present moment.
- Steady you when things get tense.
Anthraxolite quartz
A clear, double-pointed quartz crystal with flecks of jet-black carbon sealed inside as it grew. Black, held in light. It practically writes its own meaning.
Traditionally believed to:
- Stand for balance: being whole instead of perfect.
- Ground you, through the black carbon.
- Clear your head, through the quartz around it.
Read the full guide: anthraxolite meaning, properties and everyday uses.
Tektite
Natural glass, made in an instant when an asteroid hits the Earth. Most of it is black, pitted and light in the hand. It looks like something that fell out of the night sky, and that's nearly true.
Traditionally believed to:
- Mark a transformation. It was one thing, and in a flash it became another.
- Stand for resilience.
- Give you perspective on how big the sky is.
Read the full guide: tektite meaning, properties and everyday uses.
Dark pearl
The only gem on this list made by a living animal. A pearl grows layer by layer inside a mollusk. Dark ones run from soft grey to a green-black, like the inside of a mussel shell.
Traditionally believed to:
- Carry wisdom earned slowly.
- Stand for sincerity and integrity.
- Connect to the moon and the tides.
Read the full guide: pearl meaning, properties and everyday uses.
Not a gemstone, but very black: the fossil shark's teeth I collect myself. Millions of years in the ground turns them dark. Here's the shark's tooth guide and the fossil collection.
More black stones and crystals to know
No list of black gemstone names is complete without these.
- Black onyx. The classic. True onyx is banded chalcedony, and most solid black onyx sold today has been dyed to get that even color.
- Black diamond. Still a diamond, still a 10. The black comes from masses of tiny dark inclusions such as graphite. Many on the market are treated to look evenly black.
- Black sapphire. Sapphire so dark it reads as black. At 9, it's second only to diamond for hardness.
- Jet. Fossilized wood, light and warm to the touch. Queen Victoria wore it in mourning, and it gave us the phrase "jet black".
- Hematite. Iron oxide with a gunmetal shine. Scratch it across unglazed tile and it leaves a red streak. Its name comes from the Greek word for blood.
- Black opal. A dark body with flashes of color moving across it. The rarest and most prized kind of opal.
What do black gemstones mean?
Black is the color of night, soil and the space between stars. In crystal traditions, black stones and black crystals share a few meanings:
- Protection. A shield for your energy. This is the big one.
- Grounding. Feet on the floor, head out of the clouds.
- Strength. Power, resolve and getting through it.
- Mystery. What's under the surface, in you and in everything else.
- Transformation. Endings that turn into beginnings.
I believe in the power of intention, and I can't promise a rock will fix anything. Both are true.
A stone is not a treatment for any health condition, and it's no substitute for your doctor.
For more on the protective side, see my top 10 stones for protection.
Which black gemstone is best for everyday wear?
Go by hardness, and by where on your body the stone will live. Rings take the most knocks.
- Daily rings: black spinel (8), black tourmaline (7 to 7.5), smoky quartz and anthraxolite quartz (7). Black diamond and black sapphire if you're shopping fine jewelry.
- Rings with a little care: obsidian and tektite. Both are glass. They're fine day to day, but take them off for the gym and the garden.
- Necklaces and earrings: anything on this list, including the soft ones like pearl and jet.
Pearl is the softest. Put it on last, after perfume and lotion, and take it off first.
Are black gemstones naturally black?
Many are. Some usually aren't. It's worth knowing which is which before you buy.
- Naturally black: black tourmaline, black spinel, obsidian, tektite, jet and hematite.
- Usually dyed: solid black onyx.
- Often treated: black diamond. Natural ones exist, but they're uncommon.
- Black-ish: smoky quartz and black sapphire are very dark versions of stones that come in lighter shades.
A little ritual for a black stone
Black stones are the ones people reach for at a turning point. If you'd like to give yours a job:
- Find a quiet spot. Hold the stone, or the jewelry it's set in, in your hand.
- Take a few slow breaths. Decide what you want it to stand for: strength, a boundary, a fresh start.
- Say it out loud. One sentence is plenty.
- Wear it, or keep it where you'll see it. Every time you notice it, that's your reminder.
Meghan, on a Tibetan crystal ring
Ready to find yours? Explore Our Collection of black and neutral stones, each one handmade.
Quick answers
What gemstones are black?
Black tourmaline, obsidian, black onyx, black spinel, black diamond, black sapphire, jet, hematite, tektite and black opal. Smoky quartz and some pearls come close to black too.
What do black crystals mean?
In crystal traditions, black crystals stand for protection, grounding, strength and transformation. These are beliefs, not guarantees.
What is the best-known black stone for protection?
Black tourmaline. Obsidian and black onyx are close behind.
Are black gemstones natural?
Many are, including black tourmaline, black spinel and obsidian. Solid black onyx is usually dyed, and many black diamonds are treated.
Which black gemstone is hardest?
Black diamond, at 10 on the Mohs scale. Black sapphire is 9 and black spinel is 8.
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