If you or a loved one was born in October, there are 2 birthstones that you can keep an eye out for this month: Opal and Tourmaline. Both are great options for endless color combinations given their beautiful coloring characteristics.

Opal:

Opal is the most traditional October birthstone and the name itself likely comes from India, “where in Sanskrit it was called upala, meaning a ‘precious stone.’” The first Opals that were brought to the Western world were actually sourced from India. In ancient Rome, this became opalus. This stone typically undergoes a phenomenon called “play-of-color,” often shifting colors in rainbow hues, which increases their value. 

Given its dramatic play-of-color, many writers have been inspired to compare it to “fireworks, galaxies and volcanoes.” The stone has also had so many fantastical beliefs and meanings associated with it worldwide: “Bedouins once believed opal held lightning and fell from the sky during thunderstorms. Ancient Greeks thought opals bestowed the gift of prophecy and protection from disease. Europeans long maintained opal to be a symbol of purity, hope and truth. Hundreds of years ago, opal was believed to embody the virtues and powers of all colored stones.”

If you are planning to buy Opal, knowing how to properly care for the stone is essential, especially since it “may be treated by impregnation with oil, wax or plastic.” In addition, “Opal doublets or triplets are fine slices of opal glued to a base material and covered with a thin dome of clear quartz. The safest way to clean it is with warm, soapy water. Other cleaning methods might damage the opal or filler material. Note that prolonged exposure to water may weaken the adhesive in opal doublets and triplets. Even natural opal can fracture if exposed to high heat or sudden temperature changes.”

Opal is also lower on the Mohs scale of hardness (ranging from 5 to 6.5), so it should be stored separately to prevent scratching from harder stones like: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

Fun Fact: Opal is also the designated stone for celebrating your 14th wedding anniversary!

Tourmaline:

Tourmaline was more recently added as an October birthstone and its name comes from the “Sinhalese word toramalli, which means ‘stone with mixed colors, because it often has multiple colors in one crystal.” There aren’t many gems that can match tourmaline’s dazzling array of colors, which is likely why ancient mystics believed this gemstone could “inspire artistic expression,” providing a color palette for every mood. Of all the variations of Tourmaline, the most popular tend to be “the pink and red rubellites, the emerald green “chrome” tourmalines, and the neon green and blue-to-violet “paraíba” tourmalines.”

As you can imagine, the vast array of colors that tourmaline can take on has often led to this gemstone being confused for other precious stones: “One of the “rubies” in the Russian crown jewels, the “Caesar’s Ruby” pendant, is actually a red (rubellite) tourmaline. A Spanish conquistador found green tourmaline crystals in Brazil in the 1500s and confused the stones with emeralds. These and other cases of mistaken identity continued for centuries until scientists recognized tourmaline as a distinct mineral species in the 1800s.”

If you are looking to make your gift of tourmaline unique, you can use different colors and the properties associated with them as a guide, since they are “thought to have their own healing properties”: “Black tourmaline is believed to protect the wearer and give a sense of self-confidence. Pink tourmaline embodies love and is associated with compassion and gentleness. Green tourmaline promotes courage, strength and stamina.”

If you are planning to buy Tourmaline, knowing how to properly care for the stone is essential. Since tourmaline is rated higher on the Mohs scale of hardness (ranging from 7 to 7.5), it is “generally suitable for everyday wear”. In addition, it is “usually stable enough to withstand light and most chemicals, although heat can be damaging.” Tourmaline is best cleaned with “warm, soapy water and a soft brush,” but it is recommended that you avoid using “ultrasonic and steam cleaners”.

Fun Fact: Tourmaline is also the designated gemstone for celebrating your 8th wedding anniversary!

All quotes from this blog post came from https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/october-birthstones