Seeing as the two onyx-stones have not been mentioned until now, why does the Torah add the word "es Sh'tei Avnei Shoham"?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because in spite of the rarity of a precious stone large enough on which to engrave the names of six tribes, everyone in the camp knew of the existence of the two stones.
Where were the two (onyx) stones placed?
Sotah, 36a: On the Kohen Gadol's shoulders (in the golden settings at the ends of the shoulder-straps). 1
See Torah Temimah.
How will we reconcile the current Pasuk, which states that the names were in the stones, with Pasuk 11, which states that the stones were on the names?
Da'as Zekenim: This is because the letters were sunken into the stones. Consequently, at one and the same times, the names were written (engraved) on to the stones, and the stones were raised above the names.
