Birthstone of the Month (October): Opal & Tourmaline

What is the October birthstone?

October is one of the few months that have more than one birthstone. Opal and Tourmaline are the two birthstones of October. Both these gemstones are known for their extraordinary colour combinations and characteristics.

History of Opal

Opal is a traditional October birthstone that has its origin in India, wherein it was called upala in Sanskrit, which means “precious stone”. It was known as Opalus in ancient Rome. The name ‘opal’ originates from the Greek word opallios, which means ‘to see a change in color’. Opal has been inspiring writers and artists for centuries for its unique “play of colors”, which is compared to volcanoes, fireworks, and galaxies. Hundreds of years ago, Opal was believed to have the powers and virtues of all colored gemstones. The Europeans long maintained it as a symbol of truth, hope, and purity, while the ancient Greeks considered it prophetic and protective against diseases.

Characteristics of Opal

Opal is highly valued for its rainbow hues and shifting colors. Characteristically, even natural opal is prone to get fractured when exposed to high heat and sudden change in temperatures. Its hardness ranges from 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. This October birthstone can be found in many places across the world, wherein Australia is the most productive of all. Other important sources of Opal include Mexico, Ethiopia, and Brazil. Indonesia, Central Europe, Madagascar, Peru, Honduras, Turkey and the United States are some of the places having additional deposits of Opal.

Cleaning and Caring of Opal

The safest way to clean Opal is with warm soapy water. However, it is important to note that prolonged exposure to water weakens the adhesive in its doublets and triplets. One must prevent storing it with harder gems like emeralds, diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, as they could scratch this October birthstone.

History of Tourmaline

Compared to Opal, Tourmaline is newer to being an October birthstone. The name ‘tourmaline’ comes from the Sinhalese words tura mali, which means ‘stone of mixed colors’. It is one of the few gems that have a dazzling variety of colors. Some of the most popular tourmalines include emerald green tourmalines, pink and red rubellites, and neon green or blue-violet “paraíba” tourmalines. Ancient mystics believed this October birthstone to inspire artistic expression due to its wide array of colors that represent every mood. Throughout history, tourmalines have been mistaken as other gemstones.

Characteristics of Tourmaline

Tourmaline is rated from 7 to 7.5 points on the Mohs scale of hardness. This October birthstone is suitable for daily wear and can mostly stand exposure to chemicals and light, but not to excess heat. Tourmaline is most commonly found in Brazil and is also mined in Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Cleaning & Caring of Tourmaline

Tourmaline can be best cleaned with soft brush and warm soapy water. It is not recommended to use ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners on Tourmaline.

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