The stone is very dark in this piece - it looks black unless you shine a bright light through it from the back.  This, of course, is not something that will ever happen when wearing it around your neck.  The worst part was the lower "basket"  the marcasite was badly set and it looked like someone had tried to slopily glue the pieces in place after they had fallen out.  The stones looked hazy and yellow and the whole piece just looks junky and cheap.  The chain is fairly nice, but it doesn't mask the fact that the pendant is really of poor quality.  I returned it.