Opal and Tourmaline - October Birthstones

October is home to two of the most visually extraordinary gemstones in the birthstone calendar. Opal shifts colour as it moves — a phenomenon found in no other stone. Tourmaline comes in more colours than virtually any other gem, often displaying multiple hues within a single crystal. For anyone born in October, this is a genuinely interesting pair of birthstones to explore.

Opal — October's primary birthstone

Opal is unlike anything else in the gemstone world. Its defining quality — called play of colour or fire — is caused by the diffraction of light through tiny silica spheres arranged in its structure. As the stone moves, the spheres scatter white light into shifting flashes of spectral colour: red, green, blue, orange, violet, all appearing and disappearing as the viewing angle changes. No two opals produce the same pattern, and no other gemstone replicates the effect.

Australia produces around 95% of the world's opals. The most common variety — white opal — has a pale body with colourful fire playing across its surface. Black opal, from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is the most valuable: a dark body colour makes the fire appear more vivid and dramatic. Fire opal, from Mexico, is orange to red and may or may not show play of colour. Boulder opal, also from Australia, features natural ironstone matrix as part of the stone's character.

Is opal really unlucky?

The idea that opal brings bad luck is a persistent myth, traced largely to a single 19th-century novel by Sir Walter Scott in which an opal plays a dramatic role. It has no basis in the actual history of the stone — which was prized by ancient Romans as a symbol of hope and purity, worn by royalty across centuries, and considered the most magical of all gemstones for much of recorded history. Queen Victoria actively wore and gifted opal jewellery to counter the superstition. The myth is worth dismissing.

What does opal mean?

Opal's symbolism centres on creativity, inspiration, and emotional amplification. It's described as a stone that heightens whatever the wearer is already feeling — which is why some traditions advise wearing it with intention. In more grounded terms, it's associated with imagination, adaptability, and seeing things from multiple angles — qualities that reflect both its physical appearance and the character of the Libra and Scorpio signs that run through October.

Opal is the traditional stone for a 14th wedding anniversary. See our wedding anniversary stones guide for the full milestone reference.

Wearing opal jewellery

Opal is relatively soft — 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale — and benefits from protective settings that shield the stone's edges from impact. It's best suited to earrings, necklaces, and pendants for everyday wear; rings should have a bezel or protective setting. Opal can be sensitive to very dry conditions and sudden temperature changes, so it's worth treating it with a little care.

Browse our opal jewellery collection — including opal necklaces, earrings, and rings — all handmade in our Chester studio.

Tourmaline — October's alternative birthstone

Tourmaline was added to October's birthstone list in 1912, and it earns its place. The tourmaline family encompasses a wider range of colours than virtually any other gemstone — deep greens, vivid pinks, rich blues, oranges, yellows, reds, browns, and everything in between. It's one of the few stones that occurs naturally in combinations of multiple colours within a single crystal: the most famous is watermelon tourmaline, which shows green on the outside and pink at the core, like the fruit it's named after.

The most extraordinary variety is Paraíba tourmaline, discovered in Brazil in the 1980s, which displays an electric neon blue-green that appears to glow from within. Paraíba tourmaline is among the most valuable gemstones per carat in existence. Pink and green tourmalines are the most commonly used in jewellery, with the vivid, saturated specimens commanding the highest prices.

What does tourmaline mean?

Tourmaline's symbolism varies somewhat by colour — pink tourmaline is associated with compassion and love, black tourmaline with protection and grounding, green with vitality and growth. As a family, tourmaline is broadly associated with creativity, balance, and protection from negative energy. Black tourmaline in particular is one of the most widely used protective stones in crystal traditions.

Tourmaline is the traditional gift for an 8th wedding anniversary.

For more on the protective and energising properties of crystals, see our guide to healing crystals to wear around your neck.

Wearing tourmaline jewellery

Tourmaline sits at 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale — comfortably durable for everyday wear in all jewellery formats. Its range of colours means it works across virtually every metal tone: pink tourmaline with rose or yellow gold; green with yellow or white gold; blue-green with white gold or silver. It's a versatile stone that suits both delicate and more substantial settings.

Opal vs tourmaline — which to choose?

• Choose opal if you want something completely unique — no two opals are the same, and the shifting play of colour is one of nature's most extraordinary effects in gemstone form. Best for someone who appreciates something unusual and genuinely individual.
• Choose tourmaline if colour flexibility matters — tourmaline can be found to suit almost any preference, and its durability makes it an easier stone for everyday wear. Best for someone with a specific colour preference, or for whom practicality alongside beauty is important.

October birthstone gift ideas

• October birthdays — either stone makes a meaningful personal gift for a Libra or Scorpio.
• 14th wedding anniversary — opal is the traditional choice.
• 8th wedding anniversary — tourmaline is the traditional choice.
• Someone creative or artistic — opal's shifting fire and tourmaline's colour range both suit people who respond to the unusual and visually extraordinary.

All orders arrive in our signature Abiza gift box. Browse the full October birthstone collection or explore our wider birthstone jewellery range — one for every month, all handmade in Chester.

Explore more birthstones

Our complete birthstone guide covers all twelve months — their stones, meanings, and how to wear them.