The Definitive Guide to October Birthstones: Opal & Tourmaline

If you love color, October is your month. Ask any gem fan what is the birthstone for October, and you will hear two answers: opal and tourmaline. Few pairings cover more of the spectrum, making October an endless playground for designers and collectors alike. Whether you are a jeweler sourcing parcels, a shopper on the hunt, or a crystal healer curious about vibes, this guide unpacks every angle—history, science, metaphysics, and style, so you can choose (or combine) the perfect stone.

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Why Two Birthstones for October?

The first thing to pop in anyone’s mind reading this article would be - why has october got two birthstones? Wasn’t opal enough? 

The thing is the birth stone for the month of October used to be opal alone. Its kaleidoscopic “play‑of‑color” was thought to embody every hue, making additional stones unnecessary + the way it seems to transform its look under light, it just felt perfect as the birthstone for october which is also a month of transition, aka the “fall season”. 

However, in 1912,  the National Association of Jewelers revised the list, allowing alternate gems for months whose classics were either rare or misunderstood. Tourmaline, already beloved for its rainbow palette, gradually rose to co‑headliner status. Today both gems share the spotlight, giving October babies a choice between opal’s shifting fire and tourmaline’s saturated crystallinity.

October Birthstone Colors at a Glance

Opal: The Original October Icon

Geological Basics

• Composition: Hydrated silica (SiO₂·nH₂O)
  

• Mohs Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5
  

• Formation: Silica‑rich water seeps into voids, then solidifies over millennia.
  

• Major Sources: Australia (Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy), Ethiopia (Welo), Mexico (Querétaro fire opal), Brazil.
  

How Opal Became the October Birthstone

Romans prized “opalus” as a symbol of hope and purity, giving it to October‑born Libra diplomats. Medieval Europeans called it “ophthalmios” or eye‑stone, believing it sharpened vision. And just how one thing leads to other, by the 19th century, Queen Victoria’s love of Australian opals cemented the gem’s association with October weddings and autumn celebrations.

October Birthstone Meaning & Healing

• Emotional Amplifier: Opal is said to magnify emotions, allowing hidden feelings to surface and heal.
  

• Creativity Boost: Artists wear opal to unlock imagination and spontaneous insight.
  

• Water Element: Its hydrous makeup links it to intuition and fluid change.
  

Jewelry Tips for Opal

Buying guide 

While we do have a full detailed opal buying guide for you, here’s a quick checklist to help you buy opal online better - 

• Play‑of‑Color: Look for bright, multi‑hued flashes at every viewing angle, dull “dead spots” kill value.
  

• Body Tone: Black and dark‑gray bodies make colors pop (premium), while white or  opals gemstones are more affordable for larger pieces.
  

• Cracks & Crazing: Inspect under 10× magnification; surface fractures will spread over time.
  

• Moisture Content: A healthy opal should feel cool and “waxy,” not brittle or overly chalky.
  

• Treatments: Ask if the stone is smoke‑treated, sugar‑treated, or resin‑impregnated; natural stones hold resale better.
  

• Cut Style: High domes intensify color but sit higher in settings—choose low domes for rings that see daily wear. 

Tourmaline: The Modern October Marvel

Geological Basics

• Composition: Complex borosilicate (Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄)
  

• Mohs Hardness: 7 – 7.5
  

• Formation: Pegmatitic or metamorphic veins rich in lithium, iron, or manganese.
  

• Major Sources: Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, the USA (Maine, California).
  

Why Tourmaline Joined the List

Victorian jewelers adored pink tourmaline, calling it the “American ruby” after large finds in California (1890s). When consumer demand for affordable, durable color grew, gem associations promoted tourmaline as a practical October option alongside softer opal.

October Birthstone Tourmaline Meaning

• Heart Healer: Pink tourmaline is said to open the heart chakra, easing anxiety and attracting compassion.
  

• Electrical Energy: Piezo‑electric nature makes tourmaline a “battery stone,” thought to balance yin‑yang forces.
  

• Grounding Spectrum: Darker colors (indicolite blue, verdelite green) support focus and stamina.
  

Jewelry Tips for Tourmaline

Buying Guide

Our team is working hard to bring you a comprehensive buying guide for tourmaline, but I can’t leave you just like that right? Below are a few tips that come off handy when you are shopping for a tourmaline online or even the physical world - 

• Color Saturation: Rich, even hue trumps sheer size; medium‑dark tones fetch the best price‑per‑carat.
  

• Clarity: Eye‑clean stones are common—visible inclusions should reduce the asking price.
  

• Treatment Disclosure: Heating and low‑level irradiation are accepted; cobalt or copper diffusion should be priced lower.
  

• Origin Premiums: Paraíba (Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique) neon blues command 5–10× premiums; verify with a lab report.
  

• Cut Precision: Well‑matched facets and symmetry maximize brilliance—avoid windowing (a see‑through center).
  

• Size Planning: Calibrated melee (1–3 mm) is perfect for pavé; anything above 5 ct can get heavy for rings but excels in pendants.
  

While you are here, check out our wide range of tourmaline collection on Gemstonesforsale. 

Opal vs Tourmaline: Which October Birthstone Fits You?

Opal vs Tourmaline, October birthstone meaning debates often boil down to lifestyle and budget. Choose opal if you love mystical flashes and don’t mind extra care. Pick tourmaline if you need a tougher stone with equally vivid color.

Editor’s tip : This one’s for the ladies! If you are more in your soft feminine era and incline more towards lighter pastel colors, I suggest you go with tourmaline for its wide range of colors that bring out a “liveliness” in just any outfit. However, if you are currently in your dark feminine era and prefer more neutral or darker shades for your outfit, I suggest you choose opal, both black and white opal work well, as they add that “timelessness” with power to your overall look! And if you are a jeweler, you know how to use that information ;) 

Designing October Birthstone Jewelry

1. Layering Colors: Combine pastel opals with deep pink tourmaline beads for gradient necklaces.
   

2. Energy Pairings: Pair opal with aquamarine for intuition, or tourmaline with smoky quartz for grounded protection.
   

3. Metal Choices: Use bezel settings for opal cabochons; prong or tension settings showcase tourmaline facets.
   

4. Statement Mix: Watermelon tourmaline slices flank a black opal center for a bold ring that captures every October hue.
   

Care & Cleaning Cheat Sheet

Final Takeaway

October offers a rare double blessing: the hypnotic fire of opal and the vivid spectrum of tourmaline. Whether you lean mystical, practical, or somewhere in between, both stones celebrate creativity, love, and personal growth—the perfect companions for autumn birthdays and beyond.

Ready to choose yours? Explore certified opals, discover dazzling tourmalines, or browse our full catalog of gemstones and crystals for sale to craft jewelry that shines long after October is over.