October’s birthstone unveils limitless possibilities, as each one comes in a rainbow of shades and color combinations.
Opal is the birthstone for the month of October. The name opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit ‘Upala, meaning ‘precious stone’ and later the Greek derivative “Opallios,” meaning ‘to see a change of color’. Opals are formed by non-crystalline silica gel that seeped into crevices of ancient rock. Through time and nature’s heating and molding processes, the gel hardened into opals. The almost three dimensional repeating patterns give an opal its radiance. Opal is known to represent hope and innocence.
Tourmaline is an alternative birthstone for October. Tourmaline is a semi-precious mineral similar to granite. The name Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese words “Tura Mali”, which mean stone of mixed colors. Colors of tourmaline gemstone range from magenta to teal-blue, meadow-green to vibrant yellow, and even black. Pink tourmaline represents a love of humanity and humanitarianism. It is worn to promote sympathy towards others.
