October Birthstones

Please note this post may contain affiliate links and ads, read my full disclosure here

October birthdays can choose a couple of different October Birthstones

October birthdays can choose a couple of different October birthstones, whether you prefer modern vs traditional.

It is the beautiful Opal gemstone traditionally associated with October birthdays.

With the most well known colors being white, pink, blue or black each displaying a myriad of fiery colors within.

Some of the most valuable opals are prized for their “play of color” which should show up as bright and vibrant rainbow hues.

Alternatively, tourmaline is the modern choice of birthstone which comes in a variety of colors. Tourmaline has one of the widest ranges on the color spectrum of any gemstone.

Genuine tourmaline naturally displays pleochroism, meaning that if you look at your gemstone from different angles you should be able to a slight difference in the color, depending on the viewing angle.

The beautiful picture of the raw opal above is by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10135016 and can be found along with more information here.

Spiritual Meaning and Folklore of Opal

In Europe the opal gemstone has long been associated with purity, hope and truth. Whilst the ancient Greeks believed the stone provided a gift of prophecy and protection from disease.

Opal gemstone is also given as a gift for the 14th wedding anniversary.

Opal Symbolism

Opal is a seductive stone that can intensify emotions and release inhibitions. Likely for this reason, it is also associated with love and passion.

Equally, Opal gemstone can act as an emotional stabilizer. To wear an Opal is said to bring about loyalty and faithfulness.

Opals are a beautiful stone and somewhat mystical, said to enhance cosmic consciousness, but they are also protective and can be used in meditation.

Caring for your Opal

Opals can be treated with wax or oils, and it is common for cheaper jewelry to have an Opal doublet which is thin slices of opal glued together and covered with a dome of clear quartz. Rather than a solid gemstone.

Simply wash your opal jewelry in warm soapy water, rinse and polish. Never use ultrasonic or chemical cleaners this could damage the Opal.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is the modern birthstone for October and comes in a large range of colors, so something for everyone.

Tourmaline has been around for centuries and sometimes can be mistaken for rubies, emeralds or other precious gems because of the color.

A good example of this is the “Caesars Ruby Pendant” part of the Russian crown jewels, which is not a ruby at all, but rather a red (rubellite) tourmaline stone.

Tourmaline was not recognized by scientists as a distinct mineral species until the 1800’s. Prior to that there were quite a few cases of mistaken identity!

Tourmaline Spiritual Meanings and Folklore

Pink tourmaline is said associated with compassion and gentleness and symbolic of love.  Green tourmaline is said to represent courage, strength an stamina. Whilst black tourmaline is said offer protection to the wearer and give a sense of self-confidence.

Tourmaline is representative of the eighth wedding anniversary.

If you are looking for a bright clear colorful gemstone for a reasonable price, tourmaline would be a good choice for everyday wear.

Tourmaline is a pretty stable gemstone, but can be damaged by heat. The use of chemical of ultrasonic cleaners are also not recommended.

Simply clean with warm soapy water, rinse and polish.