Tourmaline and Opal are both lovely options!
Although October has come and gone, we want to wish a happy (belated) birthday to all of you October babies out there! We thought it would be fun to talk about your birthstones. That's right, birthstones, plural. Some months actually have multiple birthstones, and October has two of them. All of you born in October have both tourmaline and opal as your birthstones. Let's dive in!
Tourmaline
Tourmaline was named for its multiple colors. It comes from the Sinhalese words "tura mali," which mean "stone of mixed colors." Tourmaline is actually made up of a complex group of minerals, so there are many varieties found in different colors. In fact, they have one of the biggest color ranges of any gem!
95% of tourmaline is black, known as "school." Most stones of this variety, however, are not gemstone-quality. Indicolite tourmaline is dark violetish blue or greenish blue colored. The specific shade depends on the amount of iron and titanium. Parti-colored tourmaline gems are multicolored. One of this variety's most common color combinations is pink and green, often referred to as "watermelon tourmaline." These gems are pink inside, green on the outside, and they are often cut in slices to properly show off the colors.
On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, tourmaline ranks at a 7-7.5. This, along with an array of color options, makes it an awesome and wearable October birthstone.
*Fun fact: Caesar's Ruby was actually a rubellite tourmaline, not a ruby!*
Opal
Opal, of course, is also very beautiful. Similar to tourmaline, this stone features different colors. The word opal comes from the Greek word "opallios," which means "to see a change in color." Opal is made up of microscopic silica spheres. These spheres diffract light, which gives us that lovely kaleidoscopic display of colors. Their background color is typically black or white.
Opal has long been a popular stone, but make sure to take care of it. This gem is a 5.5-6 on the Mohs scale, meaning it is not quite as strong as tourmaline and should be handled with care. Be careful of extreme temperatures, dehydration, and direct light. Opals are most often found in the remote deserts of Australia.
*Fun fact: According to ancient aborigine Australian lore, opals were formed when the Creator came down to earth on a rainbow, and in the spot where his foot touched the ground, the stones all began to shine with the colors of the rainbow.*
If you or someone you know was born in October, you just might be in the market for a gorgeous piece of tourmaline or opal jewelry. Check out Pinetree Jeweler's October birthstones collection. They have tons of great options to suit many styles!
Speaking of gemstones, check out this article on historically significant wedding gemstones.
