Kaleidoscopic October Birthstones: Opal & Tourmaline

Both Opal and Tourmaline are as transient, adaptable and changeable like the month of October which makes them perfect to suit the plethora of different personalities and tastes out there. Legend has it that both gemstones have made their journeys's to this Earth through rainbows which is represented through the myriad of rainbow shades, colours combinations and reflections that each stone showcases. With Opal and Tourmaline, the dancing light and tonal patterns present themselves in a limitless show of beauty; perfect to suit the endless spectrum of individual style and grace.

Opal is an electric gemstone with a galaxy of flashing tones and play-of-colour combinations that make it one truly spectacular opalescent beauty. Aligned within the stone itself are thousands of tiny little silica spheres that mingle and refract the light, leading to a firework burst of jellyfish patterns and intensities where no two stones are alike. It is thought that the name 'Opal' derives from the Sanskrit term 'Upala' translating to 'precious stone' which was later derived from the Greek term 'Opallios'  meaning to 'see a change of colour'.

Opal is thought to hold many mystical and karmic powers such as enhancing the natural qualities of its wearer, whether this be good or bad. Opal has been long associated with love, passion and desire in which those who wear it are rid of their inhibitions and emotional states are amplified and stabilised. Wearing Opal helps an individual to feel loyally protected within dangerous situations and the karmic influence of sending out positive thoughts is brought back to them in abundance as a healing elixir.

Tourmaline is the alternative birthstone for October made up of a number of various different minerals giving it its broad spectrum of rainbow colours and beautifully intricate display of tonal lights. Tourmaline has the biggest range of colours of all the gemstones. A complex silicate derived from the Sinhalese term 'tura mali'  translates to 'stone of mixed colours'  with a wide variety of tone and clarity. Pink and red tourmaline has often been referred to as rubies due to their deep intense pigments but also tend to display more visible inclusions compared to their green and blue varieties.

Tourmaline is thought to be a stone that aids a sense of compassion, healing and grounding in order to help stabilise the wearer and help heal inner turmoil and fear. Pink Tourmaline in particular is said to be the gemstone of humanitarianism and love by promoting a sense of sympathy towards other. Pink Tourmaline is said to radiate the highest energy of love of all the tourmalines whereby a sense of calming of negative emotions towards special relationships is aided to those who wear it.

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