Those born in October are spoiled with two wonderful birthstones. Both Opal and Tourmaline are associated with the month of October, providing an incredible selection of birthstone jewellery and gifts to choose from. These gemstones also showcase endless colour combinations with Opal often boasting an exquisite iridescence and Tourmaline available in an array of shades including pink, green, blue and yellow! What more could an October baby ask for?
Opal Meaning & History
As well as being both the October birthstone and the gemstone used to celebrate a 14th wedding anniversary, Opal has been associated with prophesy and protection from disease. Bedouins believed that the stone fell from the sky during lightening storms and held the natural wonder within its iridescence. Europeans continue to associate Opal with purity, honesty and hope and before that, it was thought to embody the power of all coloured stones. The name for Opal is derived from the Sanskrit upala, meaning “precious stone,” as well as the Greek derivative opallios which translates “to see a change of colour.”
Where is Opal found?
More than 90% of the world's precious opals come from Australia in New South Wales. White Opal is found in the White Cliffs area of this region as well as Mintabie, Andamooka and Coober Pedy in South Australia. Australia is also home to Black Opals, found in a small town called Lightning Ridge in New South Wales. The October birthstone can also be sourced in Mexico where it is famed for its yellow, orange and red shades as well as Ethiopia where Opals range from white, yellow, orange and brown.
Tourmaline Meaning & History
The alternative October birthstone is the beautiful Tourmaline famed for its vast range of shades. Its name comes from the Sinhalese word toramalli, which translates to “stone with mixed colours.” It is its remarkable combination of shades that led ancient mystics to believe the stone could inspire artistic expression while other cultures believe that each shade of tourmaline has its own unique power. Black tourmaline is believed to protect the wearer and give them a sense of self confidence while pink and red tourmaline is associated with love and romance. Green tourmaline on the other hand is thought to promote bravery and stamina.
The October birthstone was first discovered by Dutch traders in the late 1600’s off the West coast of Italy and at first, the stone was mistaken for other gemstones of the same colour. One famous Tourmaline could be found in the Russian crown jewels and was mistakenly named the “Caesar’s Ruby” pendant. However, the red stone was eventually identified as Tourmaline. The same mistake was made when a Spanish conquistador found green tourmaline crystals in Brazil in the 1500s and confused the stones with emerald.
Where is Tourmaline Found?
The majority of Tourmaline is found in Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais. Since the late 1800’s, millions of carats of Tourmaline has been discovered here in a wide variety of colours including bi-coloured tourmaline. The October birthstone has also been found in Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States. Southern California and Maine in particular are host to several pegmatite districts where large quantities of tourmaline are regularly found.
October Birthstone Jewellery
At C W Sellors, we have a fantastic selection of Opal jewellery and Tourmaline jewellery to choose from which make perfect gift ideas for someone celebrating their October birthday. From dazzling Tourmaline rings to exquisite Opal necklaces and Opal earrings, our selections of October birthstone jewellery will leave you spoiled for choice for that special someone. Get in touch with our team of gemstone jewellery specialists today for help and advice on our ranges of Opal jewellery and Tourmaline jewellery.
