October Birthstone Spotlight: Opal and Tourmaline

October has two birthstones; opal and tourmaline. Opal is the traditional birthstone for October and tourmaline is the modern one.

Opal and Tourmaline Background

Numerous ancient myths and legends have surrounded opal. One of the beliefs is that opal can keep the color of blonde hair intact, while Arabic legends claim that it falls from the sky in flashes of lightning. 95% of the world’s opal supply can be found in Australia, dating as far back as the 1850s. One stand-out feature that this gemstone is known for is its shifting rainbow hues, known as “play-of-color”.

For centuries, tourmaline has been mistaken for ruby. Even the gemstones believed to be rubies in the Russian Crown Jewels were actually misidentified rubellite tourmalines. Tourmaline is known for having one of the widest color ranges among all gemstones. Like opals, tourmalines have their own myths associated with them. One example is the ancient Egyptian belief that tourmalines acquired their color by breaking through a rainbow while making their way up through the earth.