If you are born in the month of October you get to choose between two traditional birthstones: Opal and Pink Tourmaline.

Opal is found all over the world in many colors and forms but popular is genuine Australian Opal with a more affordable alternative of Lab-Created Opal.

Tourmaline is a more rare stone that can also be found in a variety of colors. Most commonly used to represent October babies is a rich pink color.

October is observed as national awareness month for many organizations including breast cancer awareness which is well known for its symbolic pink.  This makes shopping for pink jewelry from the charitable Survivor Collection a great dual-purpose gift.

 


Opal

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Appearance:  Known for its kaleidoscope “play of color”.

Composed of microscopic silica spheres that diffract light to display various colors of the rainbow.

Common Varieties:
Semi-Precious Opal – Most commonly found in white with rainbow (or play of color) Most rare is black opal.
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Lab-Created Opal : Laboratory grown with the same chemical, optical and physical, are identical to that of a naturally occurring Australian Opal. Available in many color varieties.
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Ethiopian Opal: Striking play-of-color in a translucent to transparent gem. Also referred to as a ‘Welo’ opal.
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Mexican Fire Opal “Stone of Love” -vivid red, orange, and yellow, transparent to translucent.
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Peruvian Opal or Common Opal – Most commonly found in shades of pink and blue with lack of color play.
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Opalite : Typically man-made crystal or opalised glass.
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Birthstone by Month & Zodiac:  October
Facts:  Opal is a delicate, soft stone with 3-21% water content.
It is the National Gemstone of Australia. Australia is the major source of the world’s supply of precious opal.
Tradition : Gift for the 14th & 34th wedding anniversary.
Physical and Emotional Balance:  Inspires love, hope, innocence, purity, luck, and happiness. Good for bestowing power and financial prosperity. Represents Venus, our beauty, love and artistical skills.
Origin:  U.S., Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, Ethiopia, Czech Republic
Mohs Hardness:  5.5-6


Tourmaline

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Appearance:
Transparent to opaque. Distinguished by its three-sided prisms, long axis crystals.
Common Varieties:
Pink to pink-red (rubellite) Tourmaline

 

Green (‘Chrome’) and Dark Green Tourmaline
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Neon blue-green (‘Paraiba’) Tourmaline
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Pink-red and green combo (‘Watermelon’) Tourmaline
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Less commonly found in white/clear, yellow orange, brown, purple, gray, black and multicolored.
Birthstone by Month & Zodiac:  Birthstone for October – Stone for zodiac sign Leo
Facts:  International Mineral Association has recognized 32 different tourmaline minerals – one of the widest color ranges of any gem.
Ancient legend is that tourmaline is found in all colors because it traveled along a rainbow and gathered all the rainbow’s colors.
Traditional : Gem for the 8th anniversary.
Physical and Emotional Balance:  Happiness, lightness of being, easy going, flexible, and purification and healing of skin disorders.
Yellow=self-esteem; pink=love and compassion; blue=serenity; green=health; black=reflects negativity
Origin:  U.S., Africa, Brazil, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka & Burma


More stones for October

Looking for alternatives? There are 16 more stones listed for the month of October as well as the zodiac sign for Libra and Scorpio!

October also lists JasperAquamarineCoral and Beryl.

Libra is PeridotLapis Lazuli and opal with Sapphire as the planetary stone and Agateas the talismanic.

Scorpio is Beryl, Apache Tear, Aquamarine, Coral, Obsidian and Topaz with Garnetand Ruby as the planetary stone and amethyst as the talismanic.

 

 

 


 
 
September 19, 2017 — Amy Seidler