October’s birthstones are opal and tourmaline, which come in a stunning array of colors. The exact color of your October birthstone depends on the type and variety of opal or tourmaline. While opal is most known for its rainbow iridescence and tourmaline for its rich reds and greens, they can both occur in nearly any hue.
Opal
Opal is October’s traditional birthstone and displays a unique “play-of-color” caused by the refraction of light through its structured silica spheres. The background body color can be white, black, or any shade in between. Fiery orange-red opals come from Mexico. Opals found in Nevada are known for their blue or green body color. The most famous opals have a black body color with stunning rainbow flashes from Australia.
Some of the many opal varieties and their possible colors include:
- White Opal – White, blue, green, orange, red
- Black Opal – Black with bright play-of-color flashes
- Fire Opal – Yellow, orange, red
- Boulder Opal – Brown, black, white with play-of-color
- Crystal Opal – Transparent to semitransparent in any color
- Moss Opal – Green, red, yellow, brown
So as you can see, opals come in every color of the rainbow! The play-of-color can flash any hue. Blue and green opals are rare and valuable finds.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline became October’s modern birthstone in 1952. It also comes in all the colors of the rainbow, sometimes several in one crystal! The vibrant rainbow hues depend on trace elements in tourmaline’s complex mineral composition.
Some popular tourmaline varieties and color possibilities include:
- Rubellite – Pink, red, violet
- Indicolite – Blue, violet blue
- Verdelite – Green
- Achroite – Colorless
- Schorl – Black, brown, green
- Elbaite – Multicolor, commonly pink, green, or blue
- Paraiba – Vivid neon blue colors
- Watermelon Tourmaline – Pink and green zones
The vibrant neon blue Paraiba tourmaline is the most valuable type. Green tourmalines are also highly prized. But there are tourmalines in every shade to match anyone’s taste!
Determining Your Birthstone Color
Since opal and tourmaline come in so many dazzling colors, how do you choose your October birthstone hue? Here are some tips:
- Choose your favorite color or one that matches your personality
- Select a stone that complements your skin tone and eye color
- Match the opal or tourmaline to your fashion preferences and jewelry style
- Look for a significant color like your birth month flower (October’s is the calendula) or birth color
- Find a stone with a unique pattern or optical phenomenon like opal’s play-of-color
Opals and tourmalines with rare or unusual colors often cost more. But there are budget-friendly options too like crystal opal or green tourmaline. Both birthstones offer an exciting rainbow of colors to choose from!
Opal and Tourmaline Color Combinations
Why pick just one October birthstone when you can wear both together? Complimentary opal and tourmaline colors create eye-catching jewelry. Here are some stunning color combinations:
- Red fire opal with green tourmaline
- Violet blue indicolite tourmaline with fiery orange opal
- Neon blue Paraiba tourmaline with opal’s green flashes
- Crystal opal with rubellite tourmaline
- Black opal with multicolor tourmaline
- Green moss opal with pink tourmaline
Mixing opal’s play-of-color with a matching tourmaline shade plays up both gems’ natural beauty. The complementary hues also flatter each other. Side by side, the stones make a vibrant color statement.
Opal and Tourmaline Jewelry Designs
Opals and tourmalines shine even brighter when creatively cut and set in exquisite jewelry. Here are some design styles that really make them pop:
- Opal doublets – Thin opal slices backed by black onyx or other materials
- Tourmaline slices – Displaying multicolored zones
- Bezel settings – Securely frame and protect fragile opal
- Pendants – Showcase large gems with maximum play-of-color
- Floral motifs – Capture the stones’ organic beauty
- Geometric designs – Bold, modern settings
- Bypass rings – Elongate marquise and trillion-cut stones
- Stacking rings – Mix multiple opal and tourmaline bands
Modern jewelry innovations like kaleidoscopes and digital displays also highlight opals’ flashing colors. Simple solitaire pendants, artistic gold work, and vintage-inspired designs are always elegant ways to wear October’s birthstones.
Caring for Opal and Tourmaline Jewelry
While beautiful, opal and tourmaline require some special care. Opals contain up to 30% water, making them fragile and prone to cracking. Tourmalines are brittle and can chip if knocked around.
Follow these tips to keep your October birthstone jewelry looking its best:
- Avoid harsh chemicals and acid, even from lotions or perfume
- Clean with warm soapy water and soft brush
- Store pieces separately to prevent scratching
- Take off opal and tourmaline jewelry before physical activities
- Have stones repolished and restored professionally when needed
With proper care and occasional repolishing, opal and tourmaline jewelry will last a lifetime and beyond as heirlooms.
October Birthstones Meanings
In addition to their visual appeal, opal and tourmaline have symbolic meaning and cultural associations.
Opal Meaning:
- Hope, innocence, purity
- Luck, magic, prophecy
- Creativity, inspiration, imagination
- Virtue, faithfulness, empathy
- Dreams, visions, fantasy
In mythology, opal brought luck and prophecy. It adorned crowns and jewelry of nobility through history. Different colors held specific significance – red symbolized passion, black meant prudence, green represented hope.
Tourmaline Meaning:
- Energy, vitality, stamina
- Tranquility, calmness, serenity
- Wisdom, tolerance, humanitarianism
- Peace, compassion, tenderness
- Alignment, insight, clarity
Ancient people viewed tourmaline as a gemstone of reconciliation and believed it inspired creativity. It also signified limitless opportunity and cleansing.
October’s vivid birthstones encourage you to dream in color!
Conclusion
October babies are blessed with two incredibly diverse birthstones – opal and tourmaline! With their stunning range of colors, choosing the perfect one for your personality and style is exciting. Whether it’s an opal flashing the entire rainbow or your favorite tourmaline hue, October birthstones make meaningful keepsakes. Their beauty inspires the imagination and their meanings evoke what’s meaningful to you. Let these October birthstone colors fill your life with their magical iridescence and energy!
| Opal Colors | Tourmaline Colors |
|---|---|
| White | Pink |
| Black | Red |
| Orange | Green |
| Yellow | Blue |
| Rainbow | Multicolor |