October Birthstones

Opal is one of the two birthstones assigned to the month of October – and its name comes from the Greek word opallios which means ‘a change in color’. Take a look at an opal and you will understand why.

• The opal has long been associated with purity, faithfulness, hope and confidence. It was a rare stone in most parts of the world until rich deposits were discovered in Australia in the 19th century. Since then, opal mines have opened up in the US, Mexico, Slovenia and Ethiopia making the opal less expensive and more readily available. Nevertheless, opals are considered one of the most beautiful gemstones of all – and opal jewelry is highly prized as a gift for those born in October.
• Opals are made from hundreds of tiny spheres of hydrated silica, which look like a shimmering rainbow when the stone is moved. When light hits the structures in the opal, its multi-colored fragments pick up a luminous bright and dark shimmer, giving the stone its unmistakable rainbow play of color. Opal ranges from 5 – 6.5 of the Mohs Hardness Scale, so it is not as durable as other gemstones. Opal jewelry should be stored away from other harder gemstones to prevent it from being scratched.
• Opals come in many colors -and no two are exactly alike.
  White opals are popular for their milky, opaque or translucent appearance. Here are a pair of designer clip-back earrings with opal oval cabochons set in 18K yellow gold from designer Mario Buccellati.
• Fire opals come in translucent orange, yellow or red. Here we have a pair of magnificent fire opal, yellow sapphire, and diamond dangle earrings set in 18k gold.

Black opals are the rarest and most expensive. Their darker play of color is sometimes not as obvious as the lighter colored ones. Dover is fortunate to carry an exquisite estate GIA black opal cocktail ring set in platinum featuring an 18.75 carat prong-set GIA certified black opal, surrounded by a halo of 64 channel set, baguette-cut diamonds.

Tourmaline

The second birthstone for October is the tourmaline. Its name comes from the Sinhalese word toramalli for ‘mixed colors’. It too often has more than one color in a single crystal. Tourmaline comes in a dazzling array of colors, the most popular being pink and red, green and the blue/violet “paraiba’ tourmalines.

• Tourmalines were often mistaken for other gemstones throughout history, until they were discovered to be a separate type of mineral in the 1800s. Tourmaline is also the designated gemstone for the eighth wedding anniversary. They are commonly found in Africa, the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Tourmaline rates from 7 – 7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale so it is relatively durable for everyday wear. It can withstand light and chemicals but should be stored away from extreme heat.
• The different colors of tourmaline were often ascribed different healing powers. Pink tourmaline was believed to represent love and gentleness. This pair of pink tourmaline and diamond designer earrings are from Sterle Paris.
• Black tourmaline was said to give protection and self-confidence to the wearer.
• Green tourmaline represented strength, stamina and courage, and it looks equally stunning in a pair of Asscher cut tourmaline and gold cufflinks…
  …as in this GIA-certified tourmaline and diamond cocktail ring.
• Blue ‘paraiba’ type tourmaline owes its intense coloration to trace amounts of copper which does not occur in other tourmaline colors.
  

  Whether you choose to celebrate a loved one’s October birthday with opal or tourmaline, Dover has a wide selection of exquisite jewelry to suit every taste and budget.