October birthdays are lucky enough to have two beautiful birthstones to commemorate their birthdays. Opal and Tourmaline each come in a wide range of stunning colors, making it easy to find a unique piece for your special October birthday. Continue reading to learn more about these two amazing birthstones.

Rough opal gemstone

Opal

Opal is known for its brilliant flashes of rainbow light. The name opal comes from the Greek word opallios, which means “to see a color change.” Opal’s intense play-of-color has been compared to volcanos, fireworks, and volcanoes.

In the 1960s, scientists discovered that the rainbow flashes visible in precious opals are caused by microscopic silica spheres that diffract light in various colors.

Symbolism and Metaphysical Properties

Over the centuries, opal has been associated with good luck and hope. It encourages optimism, enthusiasm, creativity and inspires love and passion.

In color energy, rainbow colors represent diversity and acceptance and have a soothing effect on the wearer. Rainbow colors can also be highly energizing and revitalizing.

Woman wearing opal ring, earrings, and necklace
Woman wearing opal earrings and necklace

Opal Jewelry

Opal is a relatively soft gemstone and only measures 5.5 - 6 on the Mohs scale. Any gemstone less than a 7 on the Moh’s scale should be worn with care to avoid surface scratches that will diminish the gemstone’s luster. Opal is also susceptible to cracking under extreme temperatures or dehydration.

It’s recommended to store your opal jewelry away from other jewelry pieces and wear your opal jewelry with care, especially rings and bracelets that are more likely to come in contact with hard surfaces. That being said, wearing opal jewelry is well worth the required care, and opals look stunning set as rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets.

Rough tourmaline crystals

Tourmaline

The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word “turamali” which means “stone of mixed colors. This is a fitting name as tourmaline displays a wider range of colors than almost any other known gemstone. Because of its wide variety of colors, it has been mistaken for other gemstones over the centuries, including rubies and emeralds. In fact, one of the gemstones in the Russian crown jewels that were thought to be ruby is actually a red tourmaline.

Metaphysical Properties

Tourmaline is known as the gemstone of poets and creative artists. Shakespeare even had a small collection of tourmaline to help him overcome writer’s block. Tourmaline is believed to inspire creativity, encourage love, and calm negative emotions and troubled relationships.

Woman wearing tourmaline necklace
Woman wearing watermelon tourmaline ring

Tourmaline Jewelry

Tourmaline has a hardness of 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, which makes it an ideal gemstone for everyday wear pieces in all settings. Because of the wide range of colors of tourmaline available, color is often the most important consideration when choosing a tourmaline gemstone, with richly saturated colors being the most valuable.

One of our favorite types of tourmaline is known as “watermelon” tourmaline and is beloved for its stunning green to red coloring. Gem-quality watermelon tourmaline is currently difficult to acquire, and our collection is one of the most beautiful you’ll find.

Wrap Up

Opal and Tourmaline both exhibit a wonderful range of colors and are each stunning in their own right. Park City Jewelers has a wide selection of opal and tourmaline jewelry. If you’re shopping for an October birthday, we can help you find the perfect gift that they’ll cherish for a lifetime. A custom piece using birthstone jewelry is also a thoughtful gift with extra sentimental value.