From the playful spookiness of Halloween to the dazzling display of red, orange and yellow of fall foliage, October is filled with excitement. Likewise, the October birthstones, tourmaline and opal, carry the same exciting vibe, but all year round. October babies are fortunate to call these spectacular birthstones theirs and make colorful jewelry. Explore these beautiful birthstones for a perfect gift for those born in the tenth month.
Tourmaline Birthstone
Tourmaline Birthstone Meaning & History
Tourmaline is the modern birthstone for October which found its place in the list of birthstones in 1952. The name has its roots in the Sinhalese word toramalli, which means “stone with mixed colors”. It is probably because this October birthstone often displays multiple colors in one crystal. There aren’t many gems that come close to tourmaline’s dazzling array of colors. This wide color palette suitable for every mood is perhaps the reason behind the ancient belief that this October birthstone inspires artistic expression.
The most popular tourmaline varieties are the pink and red rubellites. Then there are emerald green “chrome” tourmalines, and the neon green & blue-to-violet “paraíba” tourmalines. Did you know that tourmaline is the gemstone for the 8th wedding anniversary?
Tourmaline often confuses people for other gemstones such as rubies or sapphires. One such stone resembling ruby is in the Russian crown jewels, the “Caesar’s Ruby” pendant. But in reality it is a red rubellite tourmaline. Similarly, in the 1500s the Brazilian green tourmaline stones were mistaken for emeralds by a Spanish explorer. Later, the recognition of tourmalines as a distinct mineral species in the 1800s brought an end to this confusion.
Varieties of October Birthstone Tourmaline
1. Pink Tourmaline
Rubellite or pink tourmaline gets its gorgeous pink hues due to the presence of aluminum or iron responsible for varying intensity of pink shade. It is one of the rarest gemstones in the world and the most sought-after variety of tourmaline.
This October birthstone scores 7.5 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it fairly durable and versatile for all kinds of jewelry.
2. Paraiba Tourmaline
There are many rare gemstones, but only a few can rival the rarity of paraiba tourmaline. While other gemstones have deposits all over the world, paraiba tourmaline is quite limited. Moreover, this October birthstone is even rarer than diamonds. For perspective, just one paraiba tourmaline can be mined in the time taken to mine 10,000 diamonds.
Paraiba tourmaline also comes in a range of colors, including blue, green, bluish-green etc. In spite of paraiba tourmaline’s late discovery, the gemstone has become the personal favorite of many. The relaxing color of this gemstone has tickled the fancy of those looking for an eye-catching gemstone to embellish into a jewelry piece. Paraiba tourmaline is your best bet if you connect with the tranquil vibes of the ocean.
3. Other Species of October Birthstone
Some of the varieties (or species, as they are often termed) of tourmaline are well known all over the world.
- Schorl Species: Brownish-black to black variety of tourmaline falls under schorl.
- Dravite Species: Dark yellow to brownish-black variety of tourmaline.
- Elbaite Species: The bright color variety of tourmaline falls under elbaite.
Interesting Facts about Tourmaline
- Tourmalines are sometimes called the “Cylonese Sri Lankan Magnet”. Due to their pyroelectric characteristics, they can both attract and repel hot ash.
- The term tourmaline is derived from the Sinhalese word “tōramalli,” which means ‘stone with mixed colors’.
- These birthstones for October are usually dichroic, meaning their shade varies depending on the light and viewing angle.
Where is Tourmaline Found
Brazil is a major source of tourmalines and the state of Paraiba is where one variety got its name from. But many countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan and Afghanistan also produce this October birthstone. In the USA, California and Maine have historically been important producers. GemsNY has a huge variety of this rosy October birthstone in all shapes and sizes.
October Birthstone Care & Cleaning
October is associated with the Libra and Scorpio zodiac signs, each with its own set of personality traits. The wide variety of October birthstone makes it suitable for everyone. Whatever you choose, taking care of your jewelry is easy.
Warm soapy water is the best way to clean your jewelry. However, opals are relatively softer stones than tourmalines so do not leave them in water for a long time. Also, sudden temperature change or exposure to high heat can affect both tourmaline and opal. So, avoid that. Store them separately from other gems too to avoid scratching. And don’t use chemicals yourself unless you have adequate knowledge.
Opal Birthstone
Opal Birthstone Meaning & History
This October birthstone is also called the ‘queen of gemstones’. The word opal traces back to the ancient Indian language Sanskrit wherein upala, means a “precious stone. According to some experts, India was the source of opals in the Western world and the name transformed to opalus in ancient Rome and later to opal in English.
Opals exhibit a phenomenon called play-of-color – shifting colors in rainbow hues. The stronger the play-of-color, the higher the value of the stone. It is often compared with fireworks, volcanic eruptions and galaxies. As per the ancient Greek belief, wearing opal birthstone can endow prophetic power and protection from diseases.
The nomadic badawi of Arab once believed that opal stones fell from the sky during thunderstorms and also held lightning. On the other hand, Westerners believed that opal symbolized purity, hope and truth. No wonder this October birthstone is said to inspire creativity.
Did you know that opal is the gemstone for the 14th wedding anniversary?
What is Opal and Where is it found
Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica which in itself is a form of mineraloid. This magnificent gemstone is a result of deposits at low temperatures in between the fissures of any kind of rock.
On the Mohs scale of hardness, opal scores from 5.5 to 6 out of 10, making it a rather soft gemstone in comparison to other colored stones. Even though it qualifies to be set into fine accessories that can be used every day, regular care must be taken to increase its life.
Opals can be found all around the world. Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Ethiopia are some of the major producers of this beautiful October birthstone.
Varieties of Opal Stone
As opal comes in an array of colors, there are different varieties of it that one should know about.
- Fire-Opal: This variety of opal is generally transparent or translucent, with warm shades of colors like orange, yellow, or red.
- Girasol Opal: This variety is often confused with fire opal. They are transparent to semi-transparent milky quartz and also display asterism. A true Girasol opal reflects a bluish-green or neon-ish glow depending on the lighting.
- Peruvian Opal: These are the semi-opaque to opaque opals with blue-green shades.
- Black Opal: A very rare and prized variety with exceptional play of color. Its color is due to the presence of iron oxide and carbon, ranging from grey to jet black.
Interesting Facts About Opal
- Opal has been found on Mars. Only a few gemstones have been found in outer space and opal is one of them.
- Queen Victoria had a very large collection of opals and it was believed to be her favorite gemstone.
- Opal is also known as the national gemstone of Australia. Australia is the major producer of opals; 95%-97% of the world’s supply comes from the land of kangaroos.
Celebs with October Birthstone Jewelry
Many Hollywood celebs are said to keep black tourmaline due to its protective properties. Naomi Campbell, Adele, Gwyneth Paltrow and Leonardo DiCaprio are some prominent names.
Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Halle Berry and Katy Perry are among those who have been spotted wearing Paraiba tourmaline.
October Birthstone Jewelry for You
Explore these wonderful October birthstones and jewelry to enhance your style or express your love.
Pink Tourmaline Gemstones
Featured: 1.75 cts. Pink Tourmaline Round
Stone Grade: AAAA
Item#: PT236027RD
Starting: $1049
Pink Tourmaline Rings
Featured: Halo Ring Setting With Pave Set Round Diamonds
Stone Code: PS75075CCU
Item#: R12022BS
Metal: 14K Rose Gold
Starting: $2837
Pink Tourmaline Pendants
Featured: Pear Shape Round Diamonds Pendant Setting
Stone Code: PT0015
Item#: P30367BS
Metal: 14K White Gold
Starting: $847
Pink Tourmaline Earrings
Featured: Toi et Moi Earring Setting Studded with Emerald shape Diamond
Stone Code: PT0048
Item#: E20527PT
Metal: 14K Rose Gold
Starting: $7499
Paraiba Tourmaline Gemstones
Featured: GIA 0.53 cts. Neon Blue Paraiba Tourmaline Cushion
Item#: PAT145015CCU
Starting: $4940
Paraiba Tourmaline Rings
Featured: Paraiba Tourmaline Solitaire Ring Setting
Stone Code: PAT149014AP
Item#: R10211PA
Metal: 14K White Gold
Starting: $3,324
Paraiba Tourmaline Pendants
Featured: Round Shape Pendant Setting With Diamonds
Stone Code: PAT147013RD
Item#: P30454PA
Metal: 14K Yellow Gold
Starting: $2533
Paraiba Tourmaline Earrings
Featured: Oval Cut And Round Diamond Earring Settings
Stone Code: E20008PA
Item#: PATP146870OV
Metal: 14K Yellow Gold
Starting: $2,552
Still need more motivation to create your own October birthstone jewelry? Check out GemsNY reviews to learn why people rave about us!
