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Birthstones

October birthstones: opal and tourmaline

By the Merrylet teamUpdated

October has two birthstones: the opal and the tourmaline. Opal, the traditional stone, stands for purity, hope and truth and flashes every color of the rainbow. Tourmaline, the newer one, comes in almost every color, often several in one crystal.

Plate XOctoberA painted opal flashing rainbow colors, the October birthstoneA painted pink tourmaline, the second October birthstone
OpalTourmaline

Two stones for October

Opal

Hydrated silica

Purity, hope and truth

Colors
Milky white to black, flashing rainbow colors
Hardness
5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale
Anniversary
14th

Tourmaline

Tourmaline

Artistic expression, a color for every mood

Colors
Pink, red, green, blue and more, often mixed
Hardness
7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale
Anniversary
8th
Traditional stoneOpal (tourmaline is the newer one)
ZodiacLibra, then Scorpio from October 23

What does opal mean?

Opal has long stood for purity, hope and truth. Hundreds of years ago it was believed to hold the virtues and powers of every colored stone.

Most opals are prized for their shifting rainbow colors, called play-of-color, which writers have compared to fireworks, galaxies and volcanoes. The name is thought to come from upala, Sanskrit for “precious stone”.

Australia’s opal fields are the most productive in the world. Ethiopia, Mexico and Brazil are also important sources.

Caught lightning

Bedouins once believed opal held lightning and fell from the sky during thunderstorms.

What does tourmaline mean?

The name comes from the Sinhalese toramalli, “stone with mixed colors”, because one crystal often holds several. Ancient mystics believed it could inspire artistic expression, since it has a color for every mood.

Its range fooled people for centuries. One of the “rubies” in the Russian crown jewels is red tourmaline, and green tourmaline found in Brazil in the 1500s was taken for emerald.

Today most tourmaline comes from Brazil. Pink and red rubellite, emerald green “chrome” and neon blue-green Paraíba are among the favorites.

120 tonsOf pink rubellite sent from San Diego’s mines to Imperial China between 1902 and 1910, for the Empress Dowager Cixi, who loved the color.

How to care for an opal and a tourmaline

Opal is soft, 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Clean it with warm, soapy water only, keep it away from high heat and sudden changes of temperature, and store it on its own so harder stones cannot scratch it.

Some opals are thin slices glued to a base, called doublets and triplets. Long soaks in water can loosen the glue.

Tourmaline is 7 to 7.5 and fine for everyday wear, but heat can harm it. Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft brush, never with steam or ultrasonic cleaners.

Opal or tourmaline: which is the October birthstone?

Both. Opal is the traditional October birthstone, and tourmaline is the newer one.

OpalTourmaline
ColorsRainbow flashes in one stoneAlmost every color, often mixed
Hardness5 to 6.5, wear with care7 to 7.5, fine every day
Mostly fromAustraliaBrazil
Anniversary14th8th

Diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds can all scratch an opal, so give it its own pouch.

October’s birth flowers: marigold and cosmosWhat they mean, and how to send it →
Give them their stone

A locket that opens like an opal turned to the light

The Locket birthday card

The Locket birthday card plays on their phone: an antique gold locket lies closed on old lace in candlelight. They tap the clasp, the lid swings open, pressed petals drift out, and inside is a painted portrait of them that comes alive and meets their eyes. Add their photo, their name and a few words, send it by text, and they just tap the link.

Something to write inside
  • Opal was said to hold lightning. You light up a room the same way.
  • A color for every mood, and every one of them suits you.
  • Here’s to a year as bright as your birthstone. Happy birthday.
See the card play, then sendAll birthday cards

Watch the card before you write a word. Your first greeting card is free.

October birthstone questions

What are the October birthstones?
October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Opal is the traditional October stone and stands for purity, hope and truth. Tourmaline is the newer one and comes in almost every color.
What does opal mean?
Opal has long been a symbol of purity, hope and truth. Hundreds of years ago it was believed to hold the virtues and powers of every colored stone.
What color is the October birthstone?
Opal flashes shifting rainbow colors, called play-of-color, over a white, black or orange body. Tourmaline comes in almost every color, with pink, red and green among the most loved.
How do you clean an opal?
Clean an opal with warm, soapy water only, and keep it away from high heat and sudden changes of temperature. Store it on its own, because harder gems can scratch it.
What is the October birth flower?
October has two birth flowers: the marigold and the cosmos.

Birthstones for every month

← September: sapphireNovember: topaz and citrine →

All birthstones, month by month

Sources