Onyx lamp care rests on three basic rules: wipe the stone only with a soft, dry microfiber cloth; do not use liquid cleaners, solvents, or abrasives; and place the lamp on a flat, stable surface away from direct sunlight. Onyx poses no problems in everyday use, but because it is softer and more crystalline than marble, it should be protected from impacts and falls. In this guide we explain step by step what you need to know to enjoy your onyx lamp for many years, from cleaning and placement to changing the bulb and moving the lamp.
Why does an onyx lamp need special care?
Because onyx is a soft, crystalline stone made up of calcite layers, and in lamps it is worked thin enough to let light through. The purpose of care is to protect this thin stone body and its hand-applied polish.
In Nyxora lamps, the onyx body is hollowed out from within with a diamond-tipped milling cutter; the wall thickness is set at 6–12 mm depending on the model. This thickness is thin enough to let light through and thick enough to withstand daily use. The surface is polished in stages, first by machine and then by hand. We described the structure of the stone in detail in our what is onyx article.
Nyxora is a studio that makes handmade lighting from natural onyx in its Izmir atelier. The rules in this guide are based on the care and use notes the studio shares on every product page.
What should you do, and not do, when caring for an onyx lamp?
The short answer: dry cloth, stable surface, shade, and warm white LED; no liquids, solvents, abrasives, or direct sun. The table below brings together the most common situations.
| Topic | Do | Don’t |
|---|---|---|
| Daily cleaning | Wipe gently with a soft, dry microfiber cloth | Do not use a damp cloth, wet wipes, or spray cleaners |
| Spilled liquid | Blot it up immediately with a dry cloth, without rubbing | Do not wipe with cologne, alcohol, solvents, or limescale remover |
| Metal and fabric parts | Use a dry cloth and a soft-bristled brush | Do not apply metal polish, cream cleaners, or stain removers |
| Placement | Choose a flat, stable, and level surface | Do not place it on a wobbly table, the edge of a shelf, or a thick, soft rug |
| Sun | Choose a shaded corner or console | Do not place it in front of a window that gets direct sun all day |
| Changing the bulb | Unplug, wait for the bulb to cool, and use the socket and wattage given in the sheet | Do not exceed the maximum wattage in the sheet or fit a cool white bulb |
| Moving | Grip it near the base and use a soft wrapping | Do not lift it by the shade, lampshade, or cable |
How do you clean onyx?
Onyx is cleaned by wiping it with a soft, dry microfiber cloth; nothing else is needed for regular care. Before you start, switch the lamp off, unplug it, and wait for the bulb to cool.
- Switch the lamp off and unplug it; for wall sconces, turn the switch to the off position.
- Move a clean, dry microfiber cloth lightly over the surface of the stone, without pressing. If hard particles in the dust are dragged across the polished surface, they can leave fine scratches; so wipe rather than rub.
- Remove dust from recessed areas such as shade panels, brass ribs, and joints with a soft-bristled brush.
- Turn the cloth to a clean side often; a dusty cloth moves dust around the surface instead of removing it.
Glass cleaner, surface spray, limescale remover, bleach, wet wipes, cologne, and alcohol all fall outside this rule; each is a liquid cleaner or a solvent. Calcite, the main mineral in onyx, is also sensitive to acids: liquids such as lemon juice, vinegar, or wine can leave dull marks on the polished surface. If liquid splashes onto the stone, blot it up immediately with a dry cloth, without rubbing.
How do you clean the metal and fabric parts?
The rule is the same for the metal parts: a dry cloth and a soft brush. Aged or antique brushed brass surfaces are deliberately textured; rubbing them with metal polish destroys this texture. On patterned fabric shades, such as the one on Maison Bleu d’Onyx, remove dust with a soft brush, working from top to bottom, and do not wet the fabric.
In some designs, matte areas of the stone are deliberately preserved during polishing. Do not try to polish these areas; the matte texture is part of the design.
Where should an onyx lamp be placed?
Place your onyx lamp on a flat, stable, and level surface, in a spot that does not get direct sunlight. Keep it away from places where it could be knocked, such as table edges, walkways, and the swing area of doors.
- Flat, stable surface: The whole base should sit on the surface. Wobbly tables, shelf edges, and soft fabric surfaces are not suitable. Floor lamps can lose their balance on a thick, soft rug; choose a hard floor or a thin rug.
- Away from the sun: To protect the natural texture of the stone, keep the lamp away from direct sunlight. Instead of a spot in front of a window that gets sun all day, choose a shaded corner of the room.
- Protected from knocks: Place the lamp well back from the edge of the table, in a spot that chair backs and door leaves cannot reach.
- Cable routing: Route the cable along the wall rather than across a walkway, and do not run it under a rug; a snagged cable can topple the lamp.
- Children and pets: Instead of low tables where small children can reach the cable, choose higher consoles and nightstands; avoid shelves and windowsills that cats jump onto.
Wall sconces should be mounted on a flat, sturdy wall surface, and the electrical connection must be made by a qualified electrician. Nyxora sconces weigh approximately 1.6 to 4.8 kg, depending on the model; on lightweight walls such as plasterboard, suitable anchors or reinforcement are needed for this load. The sconces are designed for indoor use.
How do you change the bulb in an onyx lamp safely?
Before changing the bulb, unplug the lamp and wait for the bulb to cool; for wall sconces, switch off the relevant circuit breaker. The socket type and wattage of the new bulb must match the technical sheet on the product page.
- The right socket and wattage: Depending on the model, Nyxora’s technical sheets specify LED sources of 5–15 W with G9, E14, or E27 sockets. Do not exceed the maximum wattage stated in the sheet.
- The right light: Use a 2700 K warm white LED. LED suits the stone because it produces little heat; cool white light, by contrast, spoils the color gradations of the stone.
- The right movement: Screw E14 and E27 bulbs in clockwise, without forcing them. G9 bulbs are not screwed in; they are fitted by pushing the two pins straight into the socket and removed by pulling them straight out.
- The right grip: During the change, steady the lamp by its base, not by its thin stone shade or panels.
In the Orbe d’Onyx model, the light comes from a decorative glass globe bulb with an E27 socket at the top; when changing this bulb too, unplug the lamp and wait for the bulb to cool. Models with integrated LEDs, such as Orbelle d’Onyx, have no bulb to change; for maintenance and replacement, contact the studio. For socket types, lumens, and color temperature, see our guide on how to choose a lamp bulb.
How do you move an onyx lamp?
When moving an onyx lamp, wrap the stone in a soft layer, grip the piece near its base, and have two people carry heavy floor lamps. The thinly cut shades and panels are the most delicate parts of the lamp.
- Never lift the lamp by its shade, lampshade, or cable.
- Some Nyxora floor lamps weigh approximately 15–18 kg; do not try to tilt or lift a stone body of this weight on your own.
- Wrap the stone in a blanket, foam, or bubble wrap. Apply adhesive tape only to the wrapping, never to the polished stone.
- In the vehicle, secure the lamp so it cannot slide or roll, supporting it along its entire length; do not place any load on top of it.
- Do not try to take apart models made of stacked or modular parts yourself; consult the studio before moving them.
- If possible, keep the original packaging; it protects the stone most safely during moving and storage.
In its new place, check that the lamp is stable, that the cable is not crushed, and that the bulb is properly seated before you switch it on.
What does not count as a defect in natural stone?
Veining and color tone that differ from the product image, cloudiness visible under light, and crystal clusters are the character of natural onyx, not defects. Because every Nyxora piece is made by hand from natural stone, the lamp you own has no twin.
Because onyx forms by being deposited layer by layer, one area may be more translucent and another denser and darker; when the lamp is lit, these differences become pronounced and form the pattern itself. As in Ocean Shell d’Onyx, part of the stone may also have been deliberately left raw by design. If you want to see how your piece differs from the image in advance, you can ask for a photograph of your block before production; the number of the block each lamp is cut from is recorded.
If you notice a scratch, a chipped edge, or a crack that has appeared later, do not attempt sanding, polishing, or gluing on your own. Photograph the damage and contact the studio, stating the model code given on the product page. We explained how to recognize natural stone in our article on how to tell if onyx is real.
At the Nyxora studio, we check every lamp lit before it leaves the atelier and record it with the number of the block it was cut from. The right care is the simplest way to preserve the character of that stone.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wipe an onyx lamp with a damp cloth?
No. Wiping your onyx lamp with a soft, dry microfiber cloth is all it needs. A damp cloth, wet wipes, spray cleaners, cologne, or alcohol can leave marks on the polished surface of the stone; that is why liquid cleaners, solvents, and abrasives are not recommended. If liquid gets on the stone, blot it up immediately with a dry cloth, without rubbing.
Can an onyx lamp be placed in the sun?
It is not recommended. To protect the natural texture of the stone, the onyx lamp should be kept away from direct sunlight. Instead of a spot in front of a window that gets sun all day, choose a shaded corner, console, or nightstand. It is just as important that the lamp stands on a flat, stable, and level surface.
How do you change the bulb in an onyx lamp?
First unplug the lamp, switch off the circuit breaker for sconces, and wait for the bulb to cool. Steady the lamp by its base; change E14 and E27 bulbs by turning them without forcing, and G9 bulbs by pulling them straight out and pushing the new one straight in. The socket type and wattage of the new bulb must match the product sheet; 2700 K warm white LED is recommended.
Are vein and color differences in an onyx lamp a defect?
No. Because onyx is a natural stone, the veining, color tone, and translucency of every block are different; this difference is not a defect of the lamp but its identity. At Nyxora, a photograph of the block can be shared with any customer who asks before production, and the number of the block each lamp is cut from is recorded. This way, it is clear which stone your piece comes from.
Can an onyx lamp break, and how do you protect it?
Onyx poses no problems in everyday use, but because it is softer and more crystalline than marble, it should be protected from impacts and falls. Keep the lamp away from table edges, walkways, and the swing area of doors, and route the cable so no one can trip over it. When moving it, grip it by the base, not the shade, and have two people carry heavy floor lamps.