Orange Onyx Marble
Prized for its exotic and translucent qualities, Orange Onyx is a beautiful natural stone from Iran that brings a sense of drama and extravagance to any project. As such, it is an excellent choice of material for a modern marble bathroom. When viewed under natural light, onyx displays intricate waves and circles of amber, ivory and white. These same qualities are transformed when backlit.
Also known as Onyx Marble or Egyptian Alabaster, onyx is a semi-precious stone that shares similar properties to marble but displays some key differences. Whereas marble is forged deep within the earth’s surface, onyx is born right on the surface, as a result of natural spring water deposits. Its composition allows light to pass through, enabling designers to dream up spectacular ways to backlight a piece of stone, such as a backlit onyx sink. Orange Onyx is also noticeably softer than marble and thus requires extra special care, although the stone can be re-honed or re-polished if needed.
Architects and interior designers typically specify onyx marble for the public spaces and bathrooms of the most luxurious hotels and residential projects. As well as forming stunning feature walls, orange onyx can be ideally suited to basins, modern marble bathroom vanity units or unique backsplashes.
Backlighting
When backlit, the veining and texture of orange onyx marble will intensify, bringing to light the subtle details found in this extraordinary stone. Depending on how vibrant the veining or how complex the movement of your stone, the resulting effect can be soft and ethereal or a dramatic showstopper.
The level of translucency achieved is determined by both the colour, thickness, and surface finish chosen and by the spectrum of the backlighting source. We will be happy to work with you to create the effect of your dreams.
Finishes
Once you’ve settled on Carrara marble for your bathroom, we can offer a range of finishes.
A glossy highly reflective surface, resulting in a supremely refined surface. Similarly to marble, orange onyx is most commonly requested with a polished finish. As the least porous options, this finish won’t stain as easily as other finishes can and does not demand the same frequency of sealing. Plus, its shine offers a semi-reflective surface that is both attractive and excellent at hiding fingerprints.
A honed finish has a satin-like feel that is velvety and smooth to the touch. This finish brings out the full character of the stone, while softening its colour. As it is more porous, it requires more frequent sealing than a polished piece, but it is also more resistant to scratches and excellent at masking etches.
A pressurised flow of sand and water creates an aged, matte finish. The natural colour and pattern of the stone is subtly softened, with the surface displaying a uniform texture of light dots and grooves.
A common decorative technique used with onyx is that of book-matching. This is where a single block of onyx is cut into two or more slabs, each being polished. We then place the slabs end to end, so that their veining creates a mirror image, continuing from one slab to the next in a continuous flow.
All varieties of onyx marble have translucent portions in each slab. By experimenting with the lighting source, it’s possible to achieve breathtaking backlit onyx effects, whether with an orange onyx sink or bathroom wall panels.
Several other specialised textured finishes are available for many of our natural stone products.
Contact our Design Advisors directly to learn more.
Learn more about our Marble Collection.
Sourcing Marble for Bespoke Projects
We hold an extensive range of marbles from around the world and you are welcome to view and choose your own marble slab for larger bespoke projects. Only the finest stone ever makes it into our marble factory but, as each slab is unique and one-of-a-kind, your ideal slab will depend on your taste, style and the project in question.
A selection of our best-known marble stones is displayed on our website. If you don’t find one you love, please share your specific project requirements with our team of natural stone experts who can source virtually any marble you may need.
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