Black Cross Charm – Caligo
$29.95
925 sterling silver cross dangle, alternating black and clear cubic zirconia, bezel-set black heart center, open looped arms, slides onto snake chain charm bracelets.
More designs:
- Reads as a dark graphic line instead of sparkle, so it holds up in daylight and quiets indoors.
- Hangs 0.98 in (2.48 cm) below the chain, long enough to show past a shirt cuff.
- Collects lint inside the open arms, so plan on a soapy rinse every few weeks.
- Suits a man’s or a woman’s bracelet, since nothing about the black stones reads one way.
- Pairs best with plain polished beads, which give the black and silver contrast room to work.
Our Take
We kept tilting it to find the light, because black stones do not flash back the way clear ones do, and after a morning on the wrist the dark line still read while the sparkle had gone. The heart at the center registers as a shape first and a stone second. It is slim, 0.52 in across. The open arms are where lint gathers, and that dulled the black faster than we liked.
Learn how to look after your jewelry in our jewelry care guide. Discover more Cross Charm. Or explore the full Cross Bracelet collection.
Description
Why Black Stones Read as a Line, Not as Sparkle
The stones are what separate this black cross charm from the clear-set crosses beside it on the shelf. Small round black and clear cubic zirconia alternate along the front of each arm, and a faceted black heart sits in the center where the arms meet, held in a rubover bezel. Everything is 925 sterling silver, with the S925 stamp on the oval bail and one more black stone set into the side of that bail. The piece measures 0.98 in (2.48 cm) from the top of the bail to the foot, and 0.52 in (1.33 cm) across the arms. The arms end in open curves rather than square tips.
Clear stones throw light back in short flashes, which is what makes a pavé cross visible across a room. Black ones absorb it. What carries at a distance here is the dark line drawn along the silver, and the contrast between the two is doing all the work. That has a consequence worth knowing before buying. Under low evening light the cross goes quiet, and the alternating pattern collapses into one dark band, so anyone shopping for a piece that catches candlelight or a camera flash should take the all-clear version instead. In daylight the opposite is true. The drawing stays crisp, and the black heart holds its shape from several feet away while the small stones blend into a single dark run.
Living next to other charms
- Beside one bright pavé bead the black line reads as a deliberate contrast rather than a mismatch.
- In a group of oxidized or dark enamel charms it loses definition, and the center heart disappears entirely.
- The open arms can hook a neighboring charm’s prongs, so a spacer on each side keeps them apart and the surfaces unmarked.
- Black sits equally well on men’s and women’s bracelets, which is unusual for a stone-set cross this size.
Each arm is a hollow loop rather than a solid bar, which keeps the charm light for its length and lets chain show through the gaps. Those same gaps collect lint and hand cream, and the settings are open at the back, so residue reaches the underside of the stones too. A black stone that has gone gray is almost always dirty, not damaged. Warm water, a drop of dish soap and a soft toothbrush worked through the loops bring it back. Dry it fully before it goes back on the bracelet: trapped water sits inside the loops and spots the silver. Skip ultrasonic cleaners too, since the vibration works every small setting at once.
FAQ
Are the black stones onyx?
No, they are black cubic zirconia, cut and faceted like the clear stones beside them. Onyx is a natural opaque stone with a flat glassy surface and no internal fire, so the two look different as soon as light hits them.
Can the black fade or rub off over time?
It depends on what dulled it. The color runs right through a black CZ, so it cannot wear off, and gray film from lotion washes out with soap and water. A silver dip or abrasive polish can etch the surface, and that haze is permanent.
How secure is the heart in the middle?
The center heart sits in a rubover bezel, a collar of silver pressed over its edge, which holds better than prongs on a stone that size. The small round stones have individual settings; check them against a lamp twice a year.
Is it too much for an office bracelet?
Very little. At 0.52 in (1.33 cm) wide with hollow arms, it sits close to the chain and tucks under a sleeve. The dark stones read as understated rather than bright, which suits a workplace.
Specifications
| Product type | Dangle charm |
|---|---|
| Material | 925 Sterling |
| Metal Color | Silver |
| Finish | High Polish |
| Plating | None |
| Hallmark | S925 stamped on bail |
| Stone Type | Cubic Zirconia (CZ) |
| Stone color | Black and clear |
| Setting | Bezel (center), pavé (arms) |
| Stone cut | Heart (center), round (arms and bail) |
| Motif | Latin cross with heart |
| Charm length | 0.98 in (2.48 cm) |
| Charm width | 0.52 in (1.33 cm) |
| Bail height | 0.18 in (0.45 cm) |
| Fits bracelet type | Snake chain charm bracelets (Pandora compatible) |
| Closure type | Slide-on oval bail |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Bracelet included | Non |
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