The deepest, darkest, and most intense shade of the color black has a few different names. The most common terms used to describe this extremely dark black color are onyx black, jet black, and raven black. While subtle differences exist between these three descriptors, they all refer to a deep, rich black with very little light reflection.
Understanding the nuances between these three black color names requires analyzing their origins, cultural meanings, uses, and technical definitions regarding light absorption. Examining how they are used in language and marketing also provides insight into their connotations. Overall, the names point to a black color so deep as to suggest a void-like darkness.
Onyx Black
The term onyx originates from the ancient Greek word “onyx,” meaning claw or fingernail. It was inspired by the deep black color of onyx gemstones which display bands of black and white. In turn, the name onyx black refers to the extremely dark black sections of onyx stone.
As a color name, onyx black denotes the deepest, purest black without highlights. It has a slight greenish or bluish tint like the onyx stone itself, but reflects almost no light. This makes onyx black appear void-like or abyssal. It has a rich, solid color despite its dark shade.
Onyx black is commonly used to describe black gems and minerals, like spinel, tourmaline, and hematite. It also describes black materials like granite, marble, and obsidian glass. In design and fashion, onyx black is a popular choice for luxury accessories, formalwear, and statement pieces. It suggests refinement and elegance with its lush, intense shade.
Jet Black
Jet black refers to the deep black color and luster of the mineraloid jet. Jet is derived from decayed wood under extreme pressure, and has been used in jewelry since ancient times. The term “jet black” emerged in the early 19th century to specifically describe the rich, dark black color of jetstone.
As an adjective for the color black, jet black indicates an extremely dark, intense black with minimal highlights. It also suggests a glossy, shiny black appearance like polished jet. However, jet black can have a slightly warmer undertone compared to onyx black. This warm depth contributes to jet black’s popular use in fashion, architecture, vehicles, and graphic design.
Jet black evokes a sense of luxury and boldness. It also provides an imposing, weighty impression due to its intensity combined with its faint warmth. Common applications include little black dresses, limousines, branding for heavy machinery or metalwork, and statement installations. Overall, jet black makes quite the visual impact with its striking darkness and subtle glow.
Raven Black
Raven black is named after the glossy black plumage of ravens. While not technically a real color name, it is a popular descriptor for an intensely deep black. Just like a raven’s feathers, raven black has a touch of bluish or dark grey tint that adds dimension while still absorbing most light.
In literature and poetry, raven black depicts a haunting, dramatic black shade associated with mystery and the macabre. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” ties raven black to the foreboding emotions evoked by the poem’s raven visitor. As a result, raven black evokes a sense of ominous darkness and the unknown.
Beyond literature, raven black simply indicates an extremely dark, monochromatic black. It may suggest a subtle color variation or tint rather than a true, neutral black. While not an officially recognized color name, raven black is an artistic descriptor to specify a rich, deep black with subtle hues.
Defining Extremely Dark Blacks
Technically speaking, the darkest blacks reflect only about 3-5% of visible light. By comparison, mid-range greys reflect around 50% of light. This means an extremely dark black like onyx or jet black absorbs approximately 95-97% of light.
Such a high absorption rate results in the inky, shadowy appearance of these black shades. Even the slight undertones from raven black only reflect about 5-10% of visible light at most. So in terms of light reflection, all three color names refer to what is considered an absolute black.
Extremely dark blacks also allow very little light penetration due to high pigment loads. Heavy black clothing absorbs light instead of allowing it to pass through the fabric weave. Coatings like black polish or paint prevent light from entering the material underneath. In printing, dense solid blacks require heavy deposits of black ink.
So in both perception and composition, deep blacks share the ability to absorb rather than reflect light. This absorption provides their defining intensity and depth of shade.
Cultural Meanings and Uses
From funerals and witchcraft to luxury and rebellion, the cultural associations of deep black shades are complex. Onyx black, jet black, and raven black evoke certain symbolism and emotions through their darkness. But they also take on distinct meanings through their different contexts and applications.
For example, jet black relates to the inherent value and reverence for jetstone in mourning jewelry. Raven black connects with the foreboding imagery of its namesake bird as a harbinger of death. But onyx black conveys prestige and elegance when used in sophisticated black-tie attire.
Across cultures, extremely dark blacks can represent both the fear of mortality and the mystery of the unknown. They reflect somberness and solemnity, but also allure and elegance. Simple, everyday black clothing provides versatility and style, while ultra-black high-end fashion makes a dramatic statement.
So while a deep black color intrinsically represents darkness, the specific name and context bring out its cultural symbolism. This adaptable nature of black’s meanings makes onyx, jet, and raven black nuanced descriptors.
Uses in Language and Marketing
In branding and marketing, these three terms for an extremely dark black have slightly different effects. For example, jet black emphasizes boldness with a hint of warmth. Onyx black denotes refined luxury and exclusivity. Raven black taps into more suspenseful, provocative emotions.
Using onyx black in the names of designer apparel lines brings elegance and sophistication. Labelling a car’s paint job as jet black promotes speed, performance, and prestige. Referring to graphic design elements as raven black adds visual intrigue and mystique.
In writing, jet black and onyx black provide concise description. Raven black offers more evocative, literary nuance. For straightforward communication, jet black states intense, deep black unambiguously. Onyx black suggests a black shade so pure as to absorb all light.
Overall, these color terms provide options to specify an extremely dark black. This linguistic flexibility allows for precision, symbolism, or stylistic flair as needed. The evocation each term carries also makes extremely dark blacks useful for marketing high-end products and experiences.
Conclusion
While subtle distinctions exist between them, onyx black, jet black, and raven black all communicate an intensely deep, dark shade of black. Their shared near-total absorption and reflection of light unite them technically as representatives of absolute black. The origins and connotations of each term provide a nuance to its darkness. But their common goal is describing a black so pure, deep, and void-like as to consume light entirely.
So in summary, these three color names provide options for specifying the deepest, most intense shade of true black. Their symbolic resonances and rhetorical effects allow for flexible but vivid communication. Distinguishing the perfect black then becomes merely choosing a name that evokes the desired sentiment or statement for the shade’s ultimate darkness.
| Color Name | Origin | Connotations | Primary Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onyx Black | Onyx gemstone | Luxury, elegance | High fashion, black-tie apparel, interior décor |
| Jet Black | Jet mineraloid | Boldness, power | Cars, machinery, graphic design |
| Raven Black | Raven feathers | Mystery, melodrama | Literature, poetry, visual arts |
