Celebrating the October Birthstones: Opal and Pink Tourmaline
If you are lucky enough to be born in the month of October, you have the choice of two birthstones – Opal or Tourmaline.
Opal was the original traditional birthstone for October and Tourmaline was introduced onto the scene later as the modern alternative birthstone for October.
Opal is derived from the Greek word opallios, which means to ‘see a change in colour’. Opal comes in a variety of colours and styles and each one is unique, and they can reflect all the colours in the rainbow. The play of colour is the most important quality when deciding on your opal and how the opal performs in certain lights.
When selecting opal, it is very much down to personal preference, some opals have strong bold colours, or you may prefer the softer tones that Opals can also have. Opals can range in colour from blue, green, to a fiery red/orange as well as white opal.
The Opal is said to symbolise faithfulness and confidence.
Opal is found in many parts of the world including Ethiopia, Mexico and Brazil, however, the Opal fields of Australia are one of the most productive in the world for Opal. The town of Lightening Ridge is famous for its Black Opal, White Opal is also found in mines in New South Wales and Coober Pedy, South Australia. The Boulder Opal is only found in one location in the world, located in Queensland.
Opal can come as a solid gemstone, or what is known as a doublet or triplet. Opal Doublet and triplet stones are fine slices of Opal that has been glued to a base material and then covered with a thin dome of clear quartz. Every piece of Opal is unique, and Opal is often cut in larger freeform designs to help to capture the personality of the Opal and let it shine.
Opal is a softer gemstone only rating 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, therefore, not making this gemstone suitable for daily wear. As Opal scratches easily it is recommended that you store your Opal away from your other jewellery to keep it from scratching. To clean your Opal it is best to give it a wipe with a soft jewellery cleaning cloth and if necessary warm soapy water. Opals should not be exposed to long periods of water as this can weaken any Opal doublet or triplet stones, and even solid Opals can fracture if exposed to sudden temperature changes.
Opal is the gemstone to celebrate a couples 14th Wedding Anniversary.
Tourmaline was introduced as the modern birthstone for October and comes from the Sinhalese word tormalli, which means ‘stone with mixed colours’, as Tourmaline can have more than one colour within the same gemstone.
Tourmaline comes in a range of colours and has something for everyone’s taste and style, whether you like the pinks and red rubellites, the emerald green ‘chrome’ Tourmaline as well as the neon green to violet blue ‘Pariba’ Tourmalines.
Tourmaline is said to bring the wearer objectivity, compassion, serenity and tolerance.
Tourmaline is found in a variety of countries around the globe including Brazil, Pakistan, Africa and USA.
Tourmaline has a rating of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness making this suitable stone for everyday wear, this is part of the reason Tourmaline was introduced as the modern birthstone from October, as Opal is not suitable for everyday wear. To keep your Tourmaline jewellery sparkly clean, it is best to clean with warm soapy water and a soft baby toothbrush.
Tourmaline is also a stone to celebrate a couples eighth wedding anniversary.
If you are lucky enough to have a birthday in October, what birthstone do you use to celebrate your special day?
