OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES

October. The Halloween-centric month has some of the most dazzling birthstones, encapsulating the month’s spooky theme and cosplay vibe. The two modern birthstones for October are Opal and Tourmaline. Both stones come in an assortment of colors, and in the case of Opal, has a “play-of-color” unmatched in most precious gems. The Tourmaline, on the other hand, has the unique distinction of being the precious stone equivalent of a chameleon. With a vast color palette, the Tourmaline has historically been confused for other gems such as Ruby, Emerald, and more. Below we’ll explore what makes each of these stones unique and why they encapsulate the month of October so well.

Before we go any farther, though, there is one more birthstone associated with October. The midcentury birthstone list includes Aquamarine for October. Considered a modern March birthstone, we won’t look too deeply into Aquamarine, as our full description can be found in our March Birthstone summary. Note though, that Aquamarine was initially associated with October due to religious references as it is the zodiac stone for Scorpio. With the Scorpio date window beginning in late October, this helped to correlate Aquamarine with the month.

OPAL

The most significant Opal mines can be found in Australia, although large productive mines can be located in Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil. Opals come in various colors, ranging from colorless and white to blue-gray and even black. While this color spectrum can include yellow, green, brown, and more, the color display found within the Opal is what truly makes it spectacular. Characterized by a “play-of-color,” Opal can give off a kaleidoscope effect. In fact, the word Opal comes from the Greek translation of “to see a change in color.” Depending on the Opal’s base color, the kaleidoscope effect will produce a different hue and intensity.

This Emerald Cut Opal Ring with Diamond Halo in 14k Rose Gold from Blue Nile is a perfect example. The large central Opal’s vivid color play is in full effect and perfectly complements the slight tinting of the Rose Gold setting. This is a unique and romantic look that is never out of fashion.

With a hardness rating of 5.5 to 6 Mohs, Opals are a reasonably soft gem with a high water concentration. As such, people tend to shy away from wearing it as a ring, given it is prone to cracking, scuffing, or crazing (a series of fine cracks). You are more likely to encounter Opals adorning other jewelry to protect them from any undue abuse. When storing Opals, owners should also keep this in mind, as they can be scratched by harder stones, including Diamonds and Emerald. It is best to keep them by themselves and avoid any harsh chemicals when cleaning.

The Opal has numerous attributes associated with it beyond its brilliant fire. Wearing an Opal has been thought to bring luck, truth, hope, purity, and the gift of prophecy. These attributes date back to ancient times and are derived from the one-of-a-kind intense brilliance only found within Opals. Whether you associate these connotations with an Opal or not, there is no arguing that it is one of the most unique stones on the planet and a fine addition to any jewelry collection.

TOURMALINE

A renowned gem pretender, Tourmalines are the charlatans of the jewelry world. Often mistaken for other gems, Tourmalines can be found in a wide array of colors. Ranging from green, blue, red, and black, the Tourmaline color spectrum has famously led to them being confused for Emeralds and Rubys. So much so that the word Tourmaline means “stone of mixed colors.” While a vital part of Tourmaline history, this view should not be used to downplay the beauty and uniqueness of Tourmalines.

The Mini Pink Tourmaline Earrings seen here from Blue Nile showcase the most popular color for the gem, and are usually the most affordable.

Modern Tourmaline deposits are primarily found in Brazil, although they have been mined worldwide. Having been found in America, Africa, and the middle east, Tourmaline is composed of a group of minerals. The differences in the percentage allocation of these minerals lead to the gem’s broad color spectrum. Tourmaline can even be multi-colored, displaying two or more hues depending on mineral combinations. One such popular combination is “watermelon tourmaline,” which features a red center with a green border.

Tourmaline is a reasonably robust gem with a hardness scale of 7 to 7.5 Mohs. As such, it can be made into basically any jewelry imaginable. The one downfall of Tourmaline can be its pricing, which can range as wide as its color. The Tourmaline market’s volatility is due to the intense or waning demands of particular colors and has seen numerous swings over the past few hundred years. While some varieties, such as Paraíba Tourmaline, are currently in high demand, others can be pretty affordable.

This Paraiba Tourmaline and Diamond Drop Pendant in 18k White Gold is a clear example of the price disparity found when choosing Tourmaline jewelry. While most other colors in this size could be had for a few thousand, if not hundreds, of dollars, this example rings the register at an impressive $35,000. Definitely not for the casual buyer.

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE JEWELRY

When choosing jewelry that features an October birthstone, there will be two areas of focus. First and foremost, there is color, as both Opals and Tourmalines come in a broad spectrum. This is particularly true for Tourmalines, whose sole identifying characteristic is sometimes its color. While not as commonly referenced, the color of an Opal should be considered. However, this tends to be overlooked in regards to more affordable Opals.

The second central focal point is mounting. While Tourmalines are hardy and can be mounted in almost any fashion, Opals are more delicate. Ultimately, we find Opals more intriguing, and if we were to create a gemstone engagement ring featuring one of these, it’d be an Opal. While its delicate nature makes it a riskier choice, ultimately, its elegant essence and deep inner brilliance are what make an Opal so enchanting.

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