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Opal & Pink Tourmaline: October’s Birthstones

Those born in October are extra lucky because they have two birthstones: opal and pink tourmaline! While these gemstones are incredibly different, they have their striking beauty in common. We’ve compiled a list of our 6 favorite facts about opal and 6 favorite facts about pink tourmaline, so you can learn more about these wonderful gemstones.

Opal

Opals vary widely in appearance. Some opals are only one color, however others can display several colors that change as you observe the gemstone from different angles.

Here are our 6 favorite opal facts:

1. There are several different types of opals, each with distinct characteristics.

The different varieties of opal include black opal, white opal, fire opal, boulder opal, among others. Each type of opal typically has a distinct appearance that differentiates it from other types of opals.¹

2. Currently, most opals used in jewelry originate in Australia.⁴

You can find this gemstone in several other countries around the world, including Ethiopia, Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico. In the United States, opals can be found in Nevada and Idaho.^3,4

3. This delicate gemstone has a score of 5 to 6.5 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.¹

You should handle your opals with care to avoid scratching or breaking them. Opal jewelry can also be damaged if they’re exposed to excessive or rapidly changing temperatures.¹

4. Opals are sensitive to water.

Not only can these stones be prone to scratching and other damage, but they can also be damaged by water. These gemstones are divas! And they require that you treat them as such.

Never leave an opal sitting in water for prolonged periods of time to avoid damaging this stone.

5. While water can damage opals, you can still use it to clean this gemstone.

Opals are a bit like Goldilocks: There’s a “just right” amount of water that they can be exposed to.

To properly clean your opal jewelry, we recommend you use warm water with mild soap. Gently clean the stone with the soapy water using a soft cloth or toothbrush.

Remember, opals should only be in water for a brief period of time.

6. Opals are the perfect 14th wedding anniversary present.¹

Traditionally, a husband buys his wife opal jewelry for their 14th anniversary. The type of opal doesn’t matter! As long as it’s opal jewelry, you’ve got your 14th wedding anniversary present covered.

Pink Tourmaline

As its name suggests, pink tourmaline can be found in various shades of pink—from pale pink to deep purple-pink. While this gemstone may not be the first stone you think of when looking for jewelry in our store, we definitely recommend considering this stone for your next purchase. It’s a great way to add vibrant color to your wardrobe.

To learn more about pink tourmaline, here are our top 6 facts:

1. While pink tourmaline is October’s birthstone, tourmaline comes in a variety of colors.²

There are green, blue, and yellow tourmalines, among other colors. A tourmaline’s color is determined by the different elements the stone contains.²

2. Tourmaline mines exist throughout the world.

You can find tourmaline mines in Brazil, Mozambique, Pakistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, the United States, as well as several other countries.^2,3

3. Legend states that possessing a tourmaline might increase your creativity.¹

If you’re a struggling artist, you’ve probably never thought of wearing pink tourmaline jewelry to solve your problems, but throughout history some have thought pink tourmaline would allow them to unlock new ideas.

4. Pink tourmaline scores a 7 to 7.5 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.¹

Pink tourmaline is a fairly durable stone. However, you still want to be careful with this gemstone and try to avoid scratching it or hitting it against anything.

5. Cleaning pink tourmaline is fairly easy, however they’re sensitive to heat.¹

When cleaning your pink tourmaline jewelry, we recommend using mild soapy water and gently scrubbing the stone with a soft toothbrush. You should not clean pink tourmaline in an Ultrasonic cleaner or a steamer as this gemstone can be harmed by high temperatures.

6. Tourmaline jewelry is typically gifted on an 8th wedding anniversary.¹

Husbands looking for an 8th anniversary present for their wives traditionally give them pink tourmaline jewelry. This is definitely one tradition we recommend keeping alive!