There are two birthstones for October: opal and tourmaline. Birthstones are gemstones, but they are not just any ordinary gemstones. Did you know that so far, approximately 300 gemstones have been identified? But interestingly, only 20-25 of them have earned the status of birthstones.
Why are only these stones considered birthstones out of so many? Well, because these stones are special. The American National Retail Jewelers Association created the list of birthstones, and their biggest inspiration was the biblical Breastplate of Aaron and astrological beliefs.
These two traditions are centuries old, so you can understand that these special gemstones, which we call birthstones, have been a part of human life for centuries, connected to us for ages. For centuries, birthstones have been used for physical, mental, and psychological benefits. For me, birthstones are a wonderful way to connect us with nature and its benefits; they are a special gift given to humanity by nature.
In this guide, we will talk about the birthstones for people born in October: opal and tourmaline. Read till the end; we will learn about their benefits, history, price, and much more that will help you on your journey to buying an October birthstone. Let's begin!
October Birthstones: Opal and Tourmaline
Before we go deeper, let's take a quick overview. There's a white queen and a colorful king; one is formed in water, the other blossoms within the earth; one is a cabochon, the other is faceted. They are very different from each other, but the fact remains that both are October birthstones.
Opal: The Queen of the Ocean [Traditional October Birthstone]
Most people are probably familiar with opal, but every gemstone has a formation story that not everyone knows. Opals are formed from silica spheres, and it's because of these silica spheres that when light hits them, a "play of color" effect is observed.
The "play of color" refers to the transformation of white light into colored light. Did you know that opals also come in a variety of colors? For example, there's the white opal, which is quite obvious, and then there are black opals, based on their color. Precious opals exhibit the play of color effect, while others do not. Besides color, there are also varieties based on pattern, such as boulder opal, matrix opal, and pipe opal.
Tourmaline: The Colorful Actor [Modern October Birthstone]
Tourmaline is a gemstone with thousands of colors; it's a unique gemstone that is found in almost every color. Sometimes, the color of tourmaline makes it difficult to distinguish it from other gemstones, such as ruby and emerald. Another special characteristic is that it displays different hues when viewed from different angles, which is why it's also called the rainbow gemstone.
I have personally never seen such color varieties in any other gemstone during my career. Besides its colors, it also possesses some very unusual but useful properties. Tourmaline is a unique stone that possesses permanent pyroelectric properties, meaning it can generate an electric charge whenever it is heated or subjected to pressure.
Glimpse Into The History Of The October Birthstone
When the American National Association of Jewelers decided on birthstones, they drew inspiration from history. The birthstones were determined based on Aaron's breastplate, a garment worn by the high priest of Israel, which contained 12 gemstones representing the 12 tribes of Israel and symbolizing their unity. This is the collective history of birthstones, but beyond this, each birthstone also has its own historical significance, which continues to inspire us to wear them even today.
What has Opal kept hidden in history?
Opal has a very rich and vast history. In ancient Rome, scholars compared opal to volcanoes and galaxies. Due to its appearance, opal received poetic titles such as "Pandora," "Light of the World," and "Empress." The people of ancient Rome considered it a gemstone of love and hope. In 75 AD, Rome gave it the name "opalus," which means "precious stone."
A prominent Roman scholar named Pliny observed that certain opals possessed unique colors, reminiscent of those found in beautiful and mysterious paintings. He noted that this stone displayed the combined colors of gemstones like emeralds, rubies, and amethysts. Besides Rome, other cultures also considered opal as a supernatural and powerful stone.
The Greeks believed that wearing opal offered protection against illness. Europeans have long considered opal a symbol of hope, truth, and purity. Opal was first discovered in India, from where it was brought to the West. In Vedic astrology, opal is associated with the planet Venus. Astrology suggests that wearing opal can enhance wealth, creativity, and romance in one's life.
What has Tourmaline kept hidden in history?
Tourmaline is the modern birthstone for October, a designation it received relatively recently. However, despite being a modern birthstone, tourmaline has its own history, which led to its adoption as the October birthstone. Due to its wide variety of colors, tourmaline has often been mistaken for other gemstones, such as ruby and emerald.
In the 1500s, a Spanish explorer discovered green tourmaline in Brazil, which he mistakenly identified as an emerald. This misidentification persisted until the 1800s, when mineralogists examined tourmaline's properties and declared it an independent gemstone. The Dutch East India Company first brought tourmaline from Sri Lanka to the West.
Tourmaline gained popularity after the discovery of American tourmaline in 1876, when mineralogist George Kunz launched a craze by selling tourmaline he had mined to Tiffany & Co. Tourmaline was also found in California in the 1890s, where Native Americans had been wearing tourmaline jewelry and using it in funeral gifts for centuries.
At that time, China was the biggest market for tourmaline, and Empress Dowager Cixi was a great admirer of pink tourmaline. When the Chinese government fell in the 1920s, the tourmaline market also collapsed. For almost 50 years, the tourmaline trade was practically nonexistent. Then, in the 1980s, the famous Brazilian tourmaline was discovered, and this led to the resurgence of the tourmaline market.
What Good You Have With the October Birthstones
Whenever you wear a birthstone, deep down you are looking for benefits that will bring positive results into your life. In this section, we will explore the possible benefits of opal and tourmaline for people born in October. Although this is not scientifically proven, they say that some things are beyond science; they exist, but science may not be capable of proving them.
If birthstones have been worn for centuries, we can assume that their benefits prevail. I have had firsthand experience with the benefits of birthstones. Although I was born in February, I wear amethyst. After wearing an amethyst ring, I noticeably felt a sense of peace and calmness within myself. Let's see what benefits opal and tourmaline offer to those born in October.
Take These Physical Benefits With Opal
Opal is especially beneficial for kidney health.
It helps with your menstrual cycle and gynecological issues.
It will alleviate your eye-related problems.
If you are struggling with any addiction, Opal will help you.
Take These Physical Benefits With Tourmaline
Tourmaline improves the immune system and promotes natural healing.
Tourmaline relieves fatigue and boosts energy.
It helps cleanse the body of toxins and waste by healing energy.
It helps improve the sleep cycle.
Take These Emotional Benefits With Opal
Opal helps with past trauma, depression, fear, and anger.
Opal helps bring out your hidden and suppressed thoughts.
By removing emotional blockages, opal will give new momentum to your self-belief.
Opal will enhance intuition and psychic awareness.
Take These Emotional Benefits With Tourmaline
Tourmaline blocks negative energy and protects your psychic abilities.
Tourmaline reduces stress and anxiety, providing relaxation.
Tourmaline clears mental fog and improves concentration and focus.
Black tourmaline is even more effective, especially against very strong negative energy.
Which Zodiac Is the October Birthstone For
The connection between birthstones and zodiac signs mainly comes from astrology. This relationship is quite different from the normal month-to-birthstone connection. Ancient Vedic astrology, after thorough study, connected specific stones to each zodiac sign based on the influence of planets on human life.
For opal and tourmaline, the zodiac signs are Libra and Scorpio. The Libra zodiac sign is mostly for those born between September 23 and October 22, while the dates for Scorpio are October 23 to November 21. If you belong to either of these two zodiac signs, you can wear October birthstones.
How to Charge Up the October Birthstone
In spirituality, it is believed that gemstones are living entities that purify energy for you day and night. Therefore, it is important to charge them periodically so that they can work at their full potential, just like you charge your cell phone. The only difference is that you won't need electricity.
The methods for charging gemstones are also natural and can be easily done at home. While there are many ways to do this, I have shown a few here that are both easy and effective.
Put your stone under running water for a while and dry it.
On a full moonlit night, place your stone where moonlight is present, maybe near the window or on the rooftop.
Charge your crystal by placing it into a solution of water and rock salt.
Dig a hole in the earth, place your stone, and let it be there for a week.
Clear your mind and breathe over your stone and place your other hand over it; repeat for 4-5 times.
Get your crystal in hand, close your eyes, and visualize a bright light from the universe charging it.
How Much Will You Have to Spend on October Birthstones?
Both opal and tourmaline are semi-precious stones, so you won't have to spend too much. The exact amount you'll need to spend depends on the type of stone you choose. As you know, there are different varieties of opal and tourmaline, and each type has its own price point. I've provided tables below to give you an idea of which October birthstone will fit your budget.
Most Known Opal And Its Prices
Opal Type
Approx. Price Range per Carat
Black Opal
$500 – $15,000+
Crystal Opal
$100 – $5,000
White/Light Opal
$10 – $500
Boulder Opal
$50 – $3,000
Fire Opal
$10 – $500+
Ethiopian Opal
$20 – $1,500
Common/Non-Precious Opal
$1 – $10
Source: The Natural Gemstone Company
Most Known Tourmaline And Its Prices
Tourmaline Type
Approx. Price (USD / ct)
Black/common green
$5 – $50
Watermelon Tourmaline
$30 – $500
Pink / Rubellite Tourmaline
$500 – $5,000
Indicolite (blue) Tourmaline
$300 – $2,000
Chrome Tourmaline
$1,000 – $8,000
Paraiba
$2,000 – $10,000+
Source: Gemstock
What Is Not an October Birthstone: The Myth
Every famous historical figure and personality gains popularity, but along with that, they also acquire something else: myths, stories that are widely circulated but not true. There are several such myths surrounding opal and tourmaline. To truly understand opal and tourmaline, you should also be aware of these myths; otherwise, you might fall victim to misinformation.
Myths About Opal
After defeating the Titans, Zeus cried, and his tears turned into opals.
The creator came down on a rainbow, and wherever he touched the ground, opals were formed.
Opals fell from the sky with lightning.
In Sir Walter Scott's novel, opals are described as unlucky.
Opals are only lucky for those born in October; for others, they are unlucky, so don't give them as a gift.
Myths About Tourmaline
Egyptians believed that tourmalines were made from the rainbow.
In the Andes, shamans used tourmaline to connect with ancient knowledge.
Tourmaline is very durable.
It is semi-precious, so it is inexpensive, while rare tourmalines like Paraiba are even more expensive than precious stones.
These are some of the famous myths about opal and tourmaline; don't take them as truth. The purpose of sharing this is simply to make you aware of all aspects of these stones.
Shopping Tips From DIAGAA For October Birthstone
Okay, so now we hope you know everything about October birthstones and are ready to buy one, but wait, the most important thing is yet to come. Real-world shopping isn't that easy. There are many synthetic stones, and it's not always easy to tell which one is real. Besides, as we've seen, tourmaline looks similar to emerald and ruby, so there can be difficulties in recognizing it. These are some aspects you need to consider before shopping. After understanding these points, you'll be fully prepared to buy your October birthstone.
Shopping Tips For Opal
Check the Color Play: Valuable opals display a strong play of color. Choose a stone that shows different colors from every angle, and make sure the color saturation is strong.
Check the Color: If the opal is expensive, it should be black or another color, as white opals are not usually very expensive.
Check the Size: The most important characteristic of an opal is its color, so focus on the color rather than the size.
Check for Cracks: Opals are not very strong and can break easily, so during shopping, check for any cracks in the stone.
Check the Setting: If you are buying jewelry, always check the stone's setting, and if possible, buy bezel-set jewelry.
Treated or Not: Opals are sometimes treated to enhance their color. Natural and untreated opals are more expensive. Ask your jeweler whether the opal has been treated or not.
Check the Transparency: Good quality opals are usually translucent; keep in mind that opaque opals are cheaper.
Shopping Tips For Tourmaline
Check the Color Saturation: Tourmalines come in many colors, from red to blue. Check if the color saturation is even and strong.
Check Clarity: Tourmalines are generally of good quality, but stones with inclusions have reduced clarity and durability. So, check if there are any cracks in the stone, and if there are, make sure they don't reach the surface.
Check the Cut: Tourmalines usually come in good cuts, but this isn't always the case. Check if the stone has been well-cut, as the cut enhances the color.
Get To Know About Rarity: Tourmalines like Paraiba and Rubellite are very expensive, so if you want to buy a precious gift, consider these types of tourmaline.
Check the Treatments: Like opals, many tourmalines are heat-treated to enhance their color. Ask your jeweler whether the stone is heat-treated or natural.
Consider Watermelon Tourmaline: Besides single-color tourmalines, there is also a variety that displays multiple colors: watermelon tourmaline. This type of tourmaline has two hues, pink and green. If you want something different from traditional single-color stones, you can consider this variety.
In This Guide We went through: Conclusion
October's birthstones, opal and tourmaline, are not just beautiful gems, but also hold stories woven with nature, history, and human belief. Opal captivates with its mysterious play of color and emotional energy, while tourmaline is known for its hues and powerful properties. Whether you choose the tranquility of water-formed opal or the vibrant energy of earth-grown tourmaline, both gems offer profound meaning and personal connection. By understanding their history, benefits, value, and how to buy them responsibly, you can choose an October birthstone that perfectly reflects your personality, energy, and style.
Were you born in the other month, or do you want to buy jewelry for someone born in another month but don't know much about their birthstone? You can choose a stone for any month you like, but be sure to learn about it first, because these meaningful things work best when you are well-informed about them. I have prepared information for you on the birthstones of all the months. Read them.
Read Our Other Birthstone Guide:
January Birthstone
February Birthstone
March Birthstone
April Birthstone
May Birthstone
June Birthstone
July Birthstone
August Birthstone
September Birthstone
November Birthstone
December Birthstone
FAQs: October Birthstone
Why does October have two birthstones?
Opal is the traditional birthstone of October, but as it is less durable, in 1952, the National Association of jewelers add tourmaline as an alternative.
What is the real birthstone of October?
The original and traditional birthstone for October is opal, which is known for its "Play Of Color" effect.
Which Stone is better, Opal or Tourmaline?.
In terms of hardness and durability, tourmaline is better because it has a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, which is perfect for daily wear.
Who should not wear fire opal?
People with Sagittarius, Leo, and Cancer zodiac signs should not wear fire opal, because the sun signs are not aligned in harmony with the planet Venus.