Opal or tourmaline, depending on your source, is the birthstone for October. The most popular birthstone for October is opal. They are incredibly diverse rocks, changing in appearance according to the process of formation. Some jewelry uses precious opals, noted for their eye-catching iridescent colors. However, even the less spectacular common opals have a subtle beauty that makes specimen collections popular.
Opals are not considered minerals in the traditional sense, unlike the majority of other gemstones. They have an intricate lattice structure made up of many microscopic silica spheres. Because light interferes with the internal architecture of these jewels, which are renowned for their “dance of colors,” rainbow hues appear when they are moved.
In fissures and crevices in volcanic rocks that are close to the surface, opals form. Percolating groundwater dissolves silica in sedimentary volcanic ash rock, which finally crystallizes to produce the opal. Rarely does it replace fossilized wood, bones, or shells whose original material has disintegrated away.
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Characteristics of opals
Opals are soft stones that can easily have their appearance changed by variations in pressure and heat. The gemstone’s appearance depends on the water content in the rock. An opal shrinks somewhat as water evaporates out of it, and the stress of the evaporation causes fissures in the stone.
Opals’ distinctive colors are caused by impurities within the rock. Tiny gas bubble inclusions are indicated by milky or pearly opals. Iron oxides are indicated by yellows and reds. Magnesium oxides and organic carbon within the stone give the magnificent black opals their color, which can occasionally show flashes of green, blue, and red. The harlequin design, which has sizable angular patches of red, yellow, and green that resemble the checks on a clown’s outfit, is possibly the most expensive opal pattern.
Australia is where most of the world’s opals are mined. It is famous for its stunning black opals in particular. Another newer supplier of opals is Ethiopia. On a lesser scale, northern Nevada is home to a large variety of opals, some of which are in the form of fossilized wood. Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Turkey, and the Czech Republic are additional commercial opal producers.
Opal lore
The Sanskrit term for opal is the source of the name “opalus, from the Latin word upala, means “precious stone.”
The fascinating iridescence of the opal was described by the ancient Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder in his book, “Precious Stones’ Natural History.
The hardest to describe of all valuable stones is opal, which exhibits at once the piercing fire of carbunculus, the purple brilliance of amethystos, and the sea-green of smaragdus, all mingled together and refulgent with an extraordinary brightness.
The history of the opal is based on an Indian myth. Adapted from Willard Heaps’ book Gemstones:
The gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva once competed over a lovely woman out of jealous love. The Eternal became enraged by this and transformed the fair mortal into a mist creature. The three gods then gave her their respective colors so that they could each distinguish her. She was endowed by Brahma with the dazzling blue of the skies, by Vishnu with the grandeur of gold, and by Shiva with his blazing red. However, it was all in vain because the exquisite phantom was carried off by the winds. Finally, the Eternal felt sorry for her and changed her into an opal, a stone that glistens in every hue of the rainbow.
Heaps also noted that opals had symbolic significance in earlier cultures. Opals were dubbed the Cupid stone by the Romans. The anchor of hope, as the Asians called it. Arabs thought that people descended from the sky. Opals were originally the talisman of thieves and spies in Poland because it was believed that wearing one would render the wearer invisible.
October birthstone: evil superstitions
An opal’s color intensity was thought to shift during the medieval era, signaling whether the wearer was healthy or ill. According to legend, the opal kept a robust heart, avoided fainting, guarded against infection, and purified odorous air. The stone continued to stand for optimism just as it has in the past.
But by the middle of the 14th century, the opal’s reputation had shifted. The Black Death raced through Europe, wiping out one-fourth of its people. The gem was thought to be the fatal factor. When worn by a victim of the fatal plague, it was bright only while the wearer was still alive. Then it would seem different and lose its brilliance. It was actually this stone’s sensitivity to temperature fluctuations that caused it to appear different as the heat of a raging fever gave way to the chill of death.
People in Elizabethan England prized opals for their beauty. It was referred to as the “queen of diamonds” by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night. Opals gained popularity because Queen Victoria cherished them and gave them to her children. However, the stone’s reputation remained tainted, largely as a result of Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 book Anne of Geierstein, which portrayed it as a stone of evil.
Opals have always played a role in Australian Aboriginal cultures. In one tale from the Dreamtime, a pelican was sleeping amid a spectacular display of hues. A spark that was released when he picked at the colored stones set the dry grass on fire. His people were able to prepare fish and meat for the first time as the fire spread to them.
Tourmaline, an alternate October birthstone
Tourmaline, which displays the widest range of gemstone hues, is the alternate birthstone for October. Gem-quality varieties of this material have previously been mistaken for sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. In actuality, it was long believed that a famous tourmaline, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, belonged to the Russian monarch Catherine the Great.
Toramalli, a phrase used to describe bright stones in Singhalese (Sri Lankan), is said to be the source of the name of this gemstone.
Tourmaline characteristics
A complex silicate mineral that contains boron, tourmaline can also contain other elements like iron, aluminum, magnesium, sodium, and lithium. They are available in a wide range of hues, including yellow, green, red, blue, pink, brown, and black. The colors of gemstones are caused by metals that are part of the crystal structure. Manganese, for instance, is responsible for the color pink. While magnesium provides browns and yellows, iron produces colors that range from black to deep brown. Lithium-rich tourmalines can generate a range of hues, including blues, greens, and reds. Even some crystals have the ability to be bicolored. The watermelon tourmaline variant features a pink or light red inside and green outer margins that change to a translucent white zone.
Tourmalines are attracted to tiny pieces of paper, lint, and ash when heated or rubbed. The gem acquires a static electrical charge as a result. Benjamin Franklin actually used this gem in his research on electricity. Tourmaline exhibits in museums need to be cleaned frequently because the heat from the display case’s lights charges the gemstone, which attracts dust.
Tourmalines were only recently discovered compared to other gemstones. As a result, it lacks the extensive history that many other precious stones have. However, some consider tourmaline to be the “peace stone,” dispelling fear and calming the wearer.
Opal is it a unique birthstone?
Based on its capacity to create the play-of-colors effect when exposed to white light, it is available in two varieties: valuable and common. The opal birthstone is still a coveted and cherished present, even though it isn’t as rare as it was before the discovery of abundant mines in Australia.
Is white opal the birthstone for October?
Opal is known as the rainbow jewel by Australia’s indigenous people. They believed that the world’s creator descended on earth while riding a rainbow. As soon as he touched the earth, all the stones became opals with a variety of colors. Opal is currently Australia’s official gemstone.
Opal legends in other cultures
Opals are said to have fallen from the sky during lightning storms, according to Arabic folklore. Opals were thought to be able to shield their owners from disease by the ancient Greeks. Opals had numerous connotations in ancient Rome, but the most intriguing one was the notion that blonde women could use opals to maintain their desired hair color.
Meaning of opal October birthstone
Opals are traditionally thought of as the birthstone for October, and those who wear them are said to experience good fortune, good health, and love. According to astrologers, the stone signifies the Libra star sign, which stands for truth and purity.
Cleopatra and the opal ring
The famed lovers Anthony and Cleopatra appear in one of the most intriguing opal tales. Anthony was smitten with the Egyptian queen and wanted to present her something absolutely unique. Only an opal, he determined, would do. Anthony soon came across a stunning opal ring. Its ownership by Roman Senator Nonius was the only issue.
With an offer for four times the ring’s value in gold, Anthony made an effort to convince Nonius to sell the ring. However, Nonius did not want to give up his priceless opal. Because he was too terrified to reject the strong Anthony, he made the decision to leave Rome with his familyincluding his wife, kids, home, and the ringnever to return.
Painting by L. Alma-Tadema titled “The Meeting of Antony and Cleopatra” | Image credit Wikimedia Commons, Sotheby’s New York
The meaning of the name ‘opal’
Various people have different ideas regarding where the name “opal” came from. According to one theory, it originated from the Roman word opalus, which later developed from the Greek word opallios, which meant “changing hue.” The term might have originated from the ancient Sanskrit word upala, which means “precious stone” in Indian.
Famous celebrity opals
Opals were a gem that Queen Victoria cherished dearly, and as a trendsetter, she helped the gem become wildly famous in the late 20th century. Much later, Cate Blanchett made waves in 2014 by attending the Oscars while donning magnificent drop earrings crafted from the national gemstone of her homeland.
Opal’s influence is visible everywhere
Many individuals are unaware of how pervasive opals’ effect is. You’ll quickly realize, though, how much inspiration this stone provides to fashion, beauty, and design if you pause and consider sparkling eye makeup, sequined clothes, or metallic car paint with color specks that glisten in the sun.
Meaning of opal October birthstone gifts
Opals are special. They are the perfect treasured present for any occasion because they reflect light in all the colors of the rainbow. Opal is the birthstone for October, so it will hold extra significance for your loved one. The light-colored glitter of white opals makes them a gorgeous alternative to pearls and diamonds since it matches every ensemble.
Is opal or pink the birthstone for October?
Is pink tourmaline or opal the birthstone for October? The answer is: both! The traditional birthstone for October is the opal, however tourmaline has also been included on more recent listings. The National Association of Jewelers did not start using opal and tourmaline as the two birthstones for October until 1812.
An opal ring is what month?
When given in honor of a loved one’s birthday, there’s something about gemstone jewelry that makes the present more meaningful. The jewelry’s owner receives something that captures their spirit from the particular gemstone associated with their month’s birthstone. What better way to commemorate a birthday in October than with gemstone jewelry that embodies the absolute best of the stone? Let us introduce you to the opal, which is the birthstone for October.
Opal is thought to control Venus’ energies, which are seen as being sympathetic. Librans who were born in October (between October 1 and October 22) are believed to be fair-minded, calm, intelligent, and social because Venus is the planet that rules this Air sign.
Scorpios are renowned for their obstinacy, whilst Libras are renowned for their tranquility. Scorpions are people who were born between October 23 and October 31. This Water sign is seen as being sincere, courageous, and passionate. Pluto and Mars dominate it.
Your October-born loved one will adore their Opal gemstone jewelry present, whether they are a Libra or a Scorpio. Scorpions will find the Opal gemstone to connect with their passionately passionate nature, much as Libras are known for being drawn to all things beautiful (including jewelry, paintings, music, books, and more).
Speaking of nature, did you know that there is a myth claiming that the birthstone for October arrived on earth via a rainbow?
The Kaleidoscopic Gemstone
The vivid legends surrounding the Opal gemstone’s beginnings are almost as numerous as the gemstone itself.
The indigenous people of Australia thought that the creator descended to earth on a rainbow and left these vibrant diamonds where his feet touched the land. Opals are said to have fallen from the skies as lightning bolts in Arabic traditions. In the Middle Ages, people believed that an opal had all of the properties of the gemstones that were imitated in its brilliance.
Opals have been associated with good luck for thousands of years, despite more recent superstitions that claim they are bad luck for anyone who wasn’t born in October. It is also regarded as an emotive stone that can capture the wearer’s state of mind. Some people think an opal may foster independence and freedom, inspire creativity, and awaken cosmic consciousness.
Rare Fossils from the Australian Outback
The name “opal” comes from the Greek “opallios,” which means “to observe a shift on hue.” Australia is considered to be the traditional country of origin for opals. Since the first opal was discovered in this country in 1850, it has provided 95% of the opals in the globe. Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Ethiopia, the Czech Republic, and even here in the United States are some countries that mine opal (particularly Nevada and Idaho).
Seasonal rains in Australia’s outback carry silica deposits underground into fractures between rock strata. Once these rains have dried up, the silica deposits turn into opals. Oddly enough, silica may leak into crevices surrounding wood, skeletons, and seashells to create opalized fossils.
A wide range of stones are available in opals, which diffract light to display a play of many colors. In the 1960s, scientists provided an explanation for the Opal gemstone’s kaleidoscopic property. These “precious Opals” are made up of microscopic silica spheres that scatter light in the most spectacular array of hues and tones. Opals lacking this color contrast are referred to as “ordinary Opals.” Despite the presence of several Opal types, only a small number have gained worldwide recognition. Known varieties of opal include Boulder, Crystal, White, Black, and Fire varieties.
Opals are evaluated using the same criteria as diamonds (Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight), but their patterns are also particularly valued. Examples of these patterns include stained glass, rolling fire, Chinese lettering, and peacocks.
The most significant indicator of opal quality is probably color. The background color, or “body color,” and the flashing color seen when light hits the gemstone, or “play of color,” are the two aspects of color that are measured. The play of colors in an opal is measured on a brightness scale of 1 to 5, with 1 denoting “faint” and 5 denoting “brilliant.” Black opal is preferred over milky white opal in terms of value because darker backgrounds enable more contrast when there is intense play of color.
Opal is not only the gemstone connected with the 34th wedding anniversary, but it also makes the ideal gift for someone born in October! Opals add brightness to the wearer’s world, whether you’re singing Happy Birthday or meditating on 34 years well-lived.
Who ought to wear an opal?
A extremely appealing milky white stone is the opal stone. Because of its elegance and “play of color” (fire) impact, opal has unexpectedly gained a lot of popularity and desire. Opal is prized for both its unparalleled beauty and astrological significance.
What is the ‘play of color’ (fire) effect in opal?
Because of the spaces between the silica spheres inside the opal, light that enters it causes a color play. Light is forced to bend as it travels through the opening, and this bending effect divides the light into the many colors of the spectrum.
What planet is associated with Opal?
According to Indian Vedic astrology, the opal is the astrological gemstone for the Venus (Shukra) planet. Venus represents wealth, extravagance, love, marriage, and materialistic ambitions. Opal is a powerful astrological gemstone for Venus (Shukra) Planet when combined with diamond. It enhances the wearer’s social standing, physical health, and financial wealth.
Who should wear Opal?
For those whose horoscopes contain the Mahadasha or Antardasha of Venus (Shukra), opal is highly advised. According to Indian astrology, the Tula (Libra) and Vrishabha (Taurus) rashis are given Opal ratna. Opal is the suggested birthstone for the Libra zodiac sign in Western astrology. The ascendants of Capricorn, Aquarius, Gemini, and Virgo can also wear an opal gem.
What are the benefits of Opal?
The most popular astrological gem for Venus is the opal (Shukra). Healthy relationships, a greater capacity for creativity, more luxury, and personal refinement are all advantages of opal. Venus also represents the general health and happiness of women. Opal is worn to encourage a couple’s love, harmony, and understanding as well as to resolve any marital problems. Opal is used to retain social status and a lavish lifestyle in addition to improving financial circumstances. Opal is thought to be very helpful for people who are struggling with creative blocks, a lack of inspiration, and life insecurities because it is connected to the planet of creativity and innovation. Astrologers firmly believe that wearing white opal aids in boosting artistic expression and bringing creative energies into alignment for improved results.
What colour Opal is preferred for astrological purposes?
The best white opal for astrological purposes is one with vivid, brilliant fire. Other colors of opal include pink, green, orange, blue, and black, among others. As they exhibit a wonderful play of color above a dark background, gemstones with dark body colors like black, blue, and green are equally appreciated. These premium opals are utilized in high-end fashion jewelry but are not recommended for astrological purposes. Surface fissures and significant black inclusions/spots are not acceptable in astrological opal.
Which country produces the best quality Opal?
The level of color “fire” play in an opal determines its quality as a gemstone. Australian opals are of the highest caliber and are quite expensive.
What is the price of Opal?
Price per carat for opals ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 7,000. The amount and pattern of the rainbow hues on the surface of the opal, as well as its quality, determine its price.
How to wear an Opal ring as per astrology?
Silver or any other white metal alloy, such as white gold and platinum, should be used to set opals. On Friday, an opal should be placed on the index finger. For maximum performance, opal needs to be properly energized, activated, and cleansed.
What does the opal represent?
Color, Meaning, and Folklore of Opals. Opal, the birthstone for October, represents loyalty and assurance. The name is derived from the Greek word opallios, which means “to observe a shift in color,” and the Latin word opalus, which means “valuable jewel.” Learn more about the birthstone for this month!
Unique Tourmalines
The birthstones for the month of October are tourmaline and opal, respectively. Tourmaline is undoubtedly one of a kind, even though it may not be one of the most well-known gemstones. One explanation is that, of all gemstones, they have the widest range of colors. It is thought that the gemstone has a calming energy inside of it. Opals also have a variety of colors, which makes for a very alluring display of beauty. The gemstone’s colors encourage creativity. In the end, it’s safe to state that both diamonds are outstanding representations of the beauty of nature.
Opal is it a moonstone?
Moonstone and opal are the best examples of this in a world full of wonderful gemstones since they are so distinctively different in their rather seductive beauty and simplicity.
These two stones have been the topic of debate for years. Many have found their opposition and resemblance to be fascinating. which one is more rare and which one is more visually appealing.
Moonstone and opal seem somewhat similar despite the fact that they are made of distinct minerals. We all understand that there is no such thing as an absolutely perfect jewel, though. They always vary slightly or significantly within their group because they are natural organisms. One moonstone may not resemble another, and some may even appear adularescent, or like an opal. Continue reading to learn more about the many variations between these two beautiful jewels.
These two stones have completely different chemical compositions. One of the most widely distributed mineral groups on the planet, the feldspar group, includes moonstone. It is made up of of albite and orthoclase. Opal, on the other hand, is a byproduct of the admixture of water and silica.
Compared to moonstone, opal is softer and more susceptible to damage. According to the Moh’s scale of mineral hardness, opals range in hardness from 5.5 to 6.5, making them more brittle than moonstone and thus more prone to scratching and breaking. So, regardless of which gem you choose, bear in mind that if you intend to use these beauties daily, you will need to take extra care of them.
Both moonstone and opal play with light in distinctive ways, but moonstones have a schiller effect called adularescence that results from scattered light flowing through the stone and acting as scattering centers, giving the stone a bluish color or luster. When you examine a Moonstone crystal closely, you will notice a soft light that emanates from underneath the gem’s surface and is reminiscent of the moon’s glimmer on a sea surface at night. Adularescence is centered around this.
Similar effects are known as “opalescence” in opals, but this is more of a play of light that produces various milky, blue, and orange lusters based on the numerous microscopic silica spheres in their chemical composition.
Moonstones come in a range of hues, including pink, peach, green, yellow, brown, grey, and blue, although they can also be colorless.
Opals, on the other hand, triumph over moonstone and the gemstone’s singularity because there is not a single Opal in the world that is identical. Opals can be found in a variety of hues, including white, black, and orange with numerous flashes of different hues.
Moonstone is linked to new beginnings, love, intuition, and personal growth. Additionally, it aids in reducing stress and bad emotions. Moonstone is excellent in lowering anxiety levels.
Opals, on the other hand, promote independence, creativity, and a stronger drive to live. Opal increases feelings and lets go of inhibitions and fury. Because of this, this gem is regarded as a jewel of passion and love.