October: A Season of Changing Colors
October is a month when the season changes, colors turn, and fall begins - and its birthstones reflect that perfectly. Fiery opal and colorful tourmaline are the two gemstone birthstones for October, each offering unique characteristics and symbolism. Whether you're drawn to the play of color in opals or the wide spectrum of beautiful tourmaline, these stones are as diverse as they are stunning.
Modern Opal Ring Assortment
All About Opals
Opals are classified as semi-precious gemstones and the value of an opal largely depends on the intensity and pattern of its color play, with the most prized stones displaying a brilliant, rainbow-like array of colors.
Opals are known for their stunning dancing of colors, a phenomenon where flashes of different colors appear within the stone as it is viewed from various angles. This effect is caused by the diffraction of light passing through tiny silica spheres within the stone. The base color of opals can vary widely, including white, black, blue, orange, and green, with black opals being the most rare and valuable.
Opals are most famously mined in Australia, which produces around 95% of the world’s opal supply. The most renowned opal fields are in Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, and Andamooka. Other sources include Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil, each producing opals with distinctive characteristics.
The history of opals, like most all gemstones, dates back to ancient times as we see them used throughout instances in history. In the opal’s case, the very name itself has ancient roots. The word "opal" is thought to derive from the Sanskrit word "upala," meaning "precious stone," later translated into the Greek "opallios," meaning "to see a change of color."
Ancient Romans believed opals to be the most precious and powerful of all gemstones because they encompassed the colors of all other gems. One of the most famous opals is the Olympic Australis which is the largest and most valuable opal ever discovered. It was found in Coober Pedy and weighs 17,000 carats. Another notable opal is the Andamooka Opal which was gifted to Queen Elizabeth II on her first visit to Australia.
Opals have long been associated with luck and creativity. In ancient times, they were believed to bring good fortune, enhance vision, and protect against evil. The ancient Greeks thought opals gave their owners the gift of prophecy and protected them from disease. In modern crystal healing, opals are believed to inspire love, hope, innocence, and purity, as well as enhance creativity and spontaneity.
Watermelon Tourmaline Ring
The Rainbow Gemstone - Tourmaline
Tourmaline has been known and used for centuries, though it was not recognized as a distinct mineral species until the 19th century. Before then, many colored tourmalines were mistaken for other gemstones. The name "tourmaline" comes from the Sinhalese word "turmali," which was a term used by Ceylonese jewelers to refer to various colored stones.
Similar to opals, tourmaline is a semi-precious gemstone that is also well known for it’s color. The value of tourmaline depends on its color, clarity, and origin. Tourmaline is mined in several regions around the world, including Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Afghanistan. Brazil is particularly famous for producing some of the finest and most vibrant tourmalines, especially the Paraíba tourmaline, known for its electric blue to green hues.
Tourmaline is celebrated for its incredible diversity of colors, earning it the nickname "the rainbow gemstone." It can be found in almost every color imaginable, from pink, red, and green to blue, yellow, and even colorless. Some tourmaline crystals display multiple colors in one stone, such as the famous watermelon tourmaline, which has a pink center and green outer layer, resembling a slice of watermelon.
One of the most famous tourmalines is the Maine Tourmaline which was discovered in the 1970s in Maine. The discovery led to a tourmaline boom in the area, with some of the finest tourmaline since found in the area.
Tourmaline has been associated with many healing and spiritual properties over the centuries. In ancient times, it was believed to protect against toxins, improve blood circulation, and strengthen the body and mind.
We invite you to peruse our online selection of October’s birthstones below.
*Please note that this blog was updated in October of 2024. Some items featured above may have sold since. To browse our full selection of jewelry available online, click the button below.