Why onyx glows and marble does not
Onyx is semi-translucent — formed by calcium carbonate settling in layers — so light passes through it and reveals those layers as coloured, wavy banding. Marble is far denser and passes light only in very thin slices. That is the one practical difference that matters when choosing a stone light.
The result is that an illuminated onyx piece has two faces: by day it is stone with warm figuring; by night it is a light source with a colour nothing manufactured reproduces, because the colour comes from inside the stone rather than from the bulb.
What kind of light to use
Warm light (2700–3000 K) is what brings out the brown, gold and honey banding in onyx. Cool white makes the same stone look flat and grey. LED is always the right choice here — not because it is cheaper, but because it does not get hot, and sustained heat inside natural stone is not something you want.
Choosing a piece as a gift
Stone pieces work as gifts for two reasons: there is no size to get wrong, and the recipient almost certainly does not already own one. And every onyx piece genuinely differs from every other — the figuring is not printed, it is the record of how the stone formed, so no two repeat.
For occasions: smaller lit pieces suit weddings and housewarmings. Larger ones — an illuminated onyx table — suit the occasions that call for a gift people remember.
Care
Wipe with a soft cloth, lukewarm water and a pH-neutral soap. Never use alcohol, vinegar or glass cleaner on stone. If the piece is lit, unplug it before cleaning and let the stone dry completely before switching it on again.
Packing and delivery
Stone pieces are heavy and fragile at the same time. Each is wrapped in foam and boxed in reinforced card, with delivery to every Egyptian governorate and installation for the pieces that need it.