Birthstone of October: Opal and Tourmaline

October is full of vibrant hues, the changing leaves, and a hint of mystique in the air. For those born in this wondrous month, the beauty remains radiating through the birthstones that go by the name Opal and Tourmaline.

Unlike most months encompassing just one choice of stone, October gives two dazzlers-you name it: both vary in their symbolism, history, and beauty. So let’s plunge into the world of these stunning gems and see what really makes them stand out.

The Magic of Opal

By tradition, Opal is the birthstone of October and has been admired through centuries for showing a myriad of colors. Reputed as the “Queen of Gems,” Opals create a rainbow flash of colors with seeming movements dancing on the surface of the stone, a phenomenon better known as a play-of-color. Such a delightful characteristic renders each Opal a unique one.

History and Origins

Opals are gems of attested antiquity. The Romans thought an Opal was an emblem of good luck, hence its name, opalus, meaning “precious stone.” By the Middle Ages, the gem was thought to foster hope and purity, while in Arabic folklore, Opals were said to have fallen into the earth in flashes of lightning. Today Australia’s famed coasts yield the best quality Opals of the world. It supplies approximately 95% of the global demand.

Symbolism and Meaning

Opal gemstones are often said to teach creativity, enlightenment, and balance in emotions. Due to their rapidly shifting colors, they supposedly reflect the wearer’s moods; from here, the association stands strong with emotions and self-expression. Some believe that these can stimulate creativity and allow for clearer decisions.

Varieties of Opal

Each type offers a different kind of beauty, ensuring there’s an Opal for every personality.

• White Opal: The most common, with a milky body color and rainbow
• Black Opal: Rare and highly coveted, the dark backgrounds make for great contrasts with the colors.
• Fire Opal: Found in warm shades of red, orange, and yellow, sometimes there is no play-of-color.
• Boulder Opal: Holds pieces of rock from where it was formed, thus creating sharp contrasts with the colors.

The Charm of Tourmaline

Tourmaline is the second birthstone for October and one celebrated for its tremendous variety of color. The word Tourmaline stems from the Sinhalese word turmali, meaning “mixed gems” because traders once considered it to be many different stones.

History and Origins

Tourmaline was discovered in Sri Lanka centuries ago but gained popularity in Europe during the 18th century. Currently, Brazil, Afghanistan, the United States, and various parts of Africa are sources of tourmaline mining. Its incredible array of colors makes it one of the most versatile stones available for use in decorative jewelry.

Symbolism and Meaning

Tourmaline is considered to be a stone of protection and grounding. Each hue has meaning, pink tourmaline is associated with love and compassion, while green is associated with strength and vitality. Overall, the tourmaline stone is said to promote understanding, relief of fear and self-confidence.

Varieties of Tourmaline

With so much variety in this stone, tourmaline will have a gemstone for every mood or style.

• Pink Tourmaline: A compassionate and loving stone representing the heart
• Green Tourmaline: A stone associated with abundance, energy and
• Watermelon Tourmaline: A stone that represents a pink center and green outer color, reminiscent of its fruity counterpart.
• Black Tourmaline (Schorl): A common protective stone believed to repel negative

Opal vs. Tourmaline: Choosing Your Stone

October gemstones certainly appeal to different personalities, being both associated with the month. If you want something ethereal, mysterious, and full of light, Opal is the perfect choice. Its colors seem to be alive, so to speak, so it would appeal to the divine realm of creativity and self-expression.

Tourmaline is quite practical and beautiful, standing the test of time, ever-evolving through a vast array of colors. It goes well with those who want variety imbued with symbolism for strength and protection.

Care and Maintenance of October Birthstones

Both Opal and Tourmaline need some special attention to remain beautiful.

• Care for Opals: They are relatively soft (that is, 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale), which means they may be scratched, and you have to keep them away from chemicals and sudden temperature changes that may cause Store separately in a soft pouch for the best protection and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• Care for Tourmalines: Tourmalines are harder (in the 7-7.5 range on the Mohs scale), and can therefore sustain rough wear better than Opals. However, they should not be exposed to excessive heat nor harsh chemicals. Clean them with mild soap and warm water instead.

Contemporary Jewelry with October Birthstones

Contemporary jewelry designers are making Opals and Tourmalines in rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets using them in new, contemporary ways that highlight their versatility. Opals’ brightly flashing colors commonly take the lead in a statement piece fashion. Tourmalines, especially bi-colored Tourmaline such as watermelon Tourmaline, are a favorite in contemporary fashionable wear.

The popularity of Opals and Tourmalines even has some support from celebrities and royalty! Queen Victoria was a passionate proponent of Opal, and many modern boutique jewelry designers also include Tourmaline in their high end collections.

Why October Borns Are Lucky

Having two, not just one, birthstone is a double treat! People born in October can enjoy the mystical attributes of the Opal and the colors and grounding properties of the Tourmaline.

While you may gravitate toward one over the other, both birthstones not only help define your personal style, but also have significant correspondence to your inner strengths and emotional properties.

Final Thoughts

Opal and Tourmaline evoke the feeling of October itself, rich with depth of color, constantly changing and refreshing, and full of meaning. Opal feels ethereal and opalescent with its playful flash-of-color texture, while Tourmaline is full of color, history and an artistic quality of multi-colors.

Together opal and tourmaline provide an October birthday person a gorgeous combination of beauty, meaningfulness and tradition that are timeless and worthy of attention. Whether you prefer the magical flashing of opal, or a more stable gemstone of protection with tourmaline, rest assured you are commemorating the birthstone of the October birthday.