October’s Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline

October may bring a particular palette to mind, but if this is your birthday month you get to choose from a kaleidoscopic of birthstone gems. Both opal and tourmaline offer up a rainbow of colors and options. So, if you’re born in October, consider yourself lucky—the color wheel is your oyster when it comes to an heirloom pick.

Opal is traditionally considered October’s birthstone—as well as a 14th wedding anniversary gift. Exhibiting colors in a variety of ways, opal diffracts light, allowing all the colors of the spectrum to magically shine through.

Opal Rope Ring

OPAL ORIGINS

The name “opal” is from the Greek word opallios, which means “to see a change in color.” Opals were prized among many ancient civilizations for providing protection from disease, and as gifts of prophesy and good luck. Aboriginal Australians believe their Creator visited our planet on a rainbow and, wherever he walked, he left opals in his path. There’s strong evidence for the lore since their island contains the world’s most abundant supply of opals.

Opal and Diamond Solitaire Pendant

Opal and Diamond Stud Earrings

THE SCIENCE BEHIND OPAL’S FIRE

Though opals have been highly prized since ancient times their trademark color-play was only recently explained in the 1960s. Scientists discovered that opals are made of orderly and stacked submicroscopic silica spheres that diffract light. The size of the spheres and their pattern determines an opal’s intensity, flash and color.

Opal and Diamond Pendant

FAMOUS OPALS

The world’s largest opal, “Olympic Australis”, was discovered in 1956 in Coober Pedy, Australia weighing 17,000 cts, (or 7.6 lbs.) and measuring 11 inches long. More recently, a fire opal was discovered in a meteorite from Mars. On Earth, opals commonly form around hydrothermal vents—chemically-rich areas on the ocean floor where microbes live. If life on Mars ever existed, the truth may be in an opal.

Sunburst Oval Opal and White Sapphire Earrings

October’s Other Birthstone: Tourmaline

October babies get another colorful choice when it comes to their birthstone. While opals hold the throne for showing a rainbow of hues in one gemstone, tourmaline offers up just as many color options from stone to stone.

TOURMALINE COLORS

No other gemstone boasts a greater range of natural colors than tourmaline. And, in fact, this name isn’t one gem but a family of more than 30 varied borosilicate crystals with different compositions, properties and trace elements that render distinct colors. With brilliant coloration and clarity, they’re often mistaken for other gemstones—even the Russian crown jewels “rubies” are now believed to be rubellite, or red tourmaline.

Rubellite Tourmaline and Diamond Crown Ring

Tourmaline colors range from red, yellow and blue to brown and black. Occasionally, more than one hue presents. The aptly named “watermelon tourmaline” boasts a brilliant green exterior that dramatically transitions to a pink center.

Oval-Cut Green Tourmaline and Diamond Weave Ring

Pink tourmaline is associated with kindness, comfort, safety and relaxation, making it a prime choice for October birthdays or celebrating an 8th wedding anniversary. But with its storied properties and boundless color options, tourmaline jewelry makes the perfect gift for anyone.

Pink Tourmaline Stud Earrings

TOURMALINE MEANING & HISTORY

With this full spectrum offering, it’s no surprise the name tourmaline derives from the Sri Lankan tura mali, meaning “stone of mixed colors.” Egyptian legend touted that tourmaline received its colors as it passed through a rainbow on its way through the Earth’s core. Ancient magicians used “schorl”, an iron-rich black tourmaline, to ward off evil forces and negative energy. A stalwart protector against evil, toxins and negativity, mystics still use tourmaline to spiritually clear the air.

Petite Pink Tourmaline and Diamond Floral Pendant

CHARACTERISTIC & DURABILITY

Tourmaline crystals grow in long, pencil-thin structures. In an effort to preserve as much of the stone as possible, gem cutters often cut them into baguettes or oval cuts to preserve the gemstone’s exceptional clarity. With a ranking of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, tourmaline is just under diamonds and sapphires, making it perfectly durable for lifelong wear.

Enchanted by these simply magical gems? Find your fiery favorite or shade you fancy and share it #bluenilesparkle.

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