All You Must Learn About October Birthstone Opal and its Alternative Stone

Happy Halloween, October babies! October is arriving and bringing so much entertainment, extravaganzas, and a lot of excitement to you. It is your birth month and Halloween month, so what is more exciting, your birthday or Halloween? Of course your birthday! As you are born in this month, we have much more to say about your character. People born in October are often adventurous, born leaders who bring power and passion and have a strong sense of justice. But are you doing justice with your birthstone? If you are not acquainted with your birthstone, we are here to introduce you to it.

The birthstone for October is the Opal, a gemstone known for its iridescent colors and unique beauty. Opals are believed to symbolize hopefulness, holiness, and truthfulness. This exquisite gemstone is usually associated with good fortune and is believed to convey happiness to those who wear it. In this blog, we are also going to learn about the alternative birthstone for October borns, which is Tourmaline. Therefore, come with us and join the journey to know about your birthstone and alternative birthstone in detail.

An Introduction to October Birthstone Opal

Opal is such a beautiful gemstone that you get attracted to it the very first time you look at it. The term Opal is believed to come from various languages, the Latin 'Opalus' and the Greek' Opallios,' meaning to see a change in color. It is also regarded that Opal was taken from the Sanskrit word 'Upala,' which means precious stone. Its play-of-color effect resembles the playful character of an October baby. The Opal brings transparency to an indefinite condition or feeling. It is usually a healing gemstone that helps you rebound after a devastating despair. Opal symbolizes and presents the wearer with healthiness, prosperity, and abundance. It always encourages you to make the right decisions and move on the track to achieve your goals.

History of Beautiful Opal: An October Birthstone

Multiple Egyptian, Roman, Greek, European, and Arabic narratives consider that the Opal represents truth, loyalty, innocence, and hope. Also, during the Roman period, when Mark Antony desired to offer an Opal ring to Cleopatra, a senator named Nonius, who had an Opal, escaped rather than giving it to Antony. In 1875, charming Opal pieces were discovered in the hills of Kyabra in South East Queensland, Australia. Roy Shepherd and Sam Brooks first proclaimed the Opal gem at Lighting Ridge, South Wales, Australia, in the late 1880s.

In 1915, the world's largest deposit of White Opal was said to be in Coober Pedy, Australia. In the 19th century, the only known source of copper until Australia's ample deposits were discovered was Červenica, located outside the Roman border in Slovakia. Pliny the Elder, a Roman writer, represented Opals as keeping the "fire of the carbuncle." He also remarked that the rainbow hues of the Opals could impact the shades of any gemstone. An archaic Greek philosopher, Theophrastus, mentioned his friend Onomacritus by saying: "The delicacy of the Opal reminds me of a loving and beautiful child."

The Formation and Other Details About October Birthstone Opal

There needs to be more than just knowing the history and significance of a gemstone. It would be best if you learn about the other things about a gemstone. Here, we are introducing you to further details about the October birthstone Opal, after which you will understand Opal more deeply.

Color of Opal

Opal comes in almost any shade of the optical range. The 'play-of-color' is a visible splendor, making the gem blaze diverse hues when moved or reacted with light. It is what makes an Opal separate from other jewels.

Configuration of Opal

Opal is a variety of shapeless stones that belong to the silicate mineral group. It is constructed in a Trigonal crystal structure and appears with a white streak and waxy luster.

Hardness of Opal

Opal holds a score of 5.5-6.5, as illustrated by the Mohs scale of hardness. Due to the lower hardness, one must wear it very carefully if worn as it may get damaged and scratched.

Origins of Opal

The best quality Opals are excavated from Australia and Ethiopia, with almost 95% of the world's Opals arriving from Australia. The other origins are Mexico, Brazil, Hungary, Slovakia, Canada, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, Turkey, and Nicaragua.

Worth of Opal

The worth of Opals, covering all the varieties, deviates between $50 and $ 10,000 per carat.

Rock Formation of Opal

Opal is a hydrated and unstructured silica form comprising water capacity deviating from 3% to 21% by mass but commonly in between 6% and 10%. It is formed via a mixture of acidic weathering and water-rich liquids that seal gaps in rocks.

What Are the Types of October Birthstone Opal?

The color and play of color characterize the types of Opal. Opals such as white, black, or fire are renowned for their exceptional hue. Opals like precious or common are well-known for their play of color; precious ones show iridescence, whereas common doesn't. But there are a lot more, so let us learn about the main types of Opal and their lovely color.

  1. Black Opal:- A black Opal also ranges between dark gray to dark blue 

  1. Boulder Opal:- A brownish or grayish Opal with glimmers of radiant colors like red, green, and blue 

  1. White Opals:- A milky white or creamy backdrop Opal displays  light blue, rose, and yellow iridescence

  1. Jelly Opal:- An Opal with vivid flashes of red, pink, and blue that looks like floating water 

  1. Ethiopian Opal:- A colorless Opal with high play of color, mainly red, yellow, and orange

  1. Hyalite Opal:- A glassy Opal with brilliance, usually milky white or gray 

  1. Fire Opal:- A transparent, translucent reddish-orange to orangish-yellow Opal

  1. Pink Opal:- A creamy pink to dark reddish pink Opal

  1. Honey Opal:- An Opal with honey-like hues, like warm golden yellow to orangish-brown

Healing Properties of October Birthstone Opal

Wearing a gemstone that touches your skin is considered more beneficial to benefit you more authentically. As people start believing that, the demand for gemstone jewelry is increasing in an upward direction. An Opal helps its users in considerable manners. It provides you benefits with its physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and metaphysical healing properties. The healing properties of Opal are defined as follows:

  • Boosts Cognitive Power

An Opal has always been in priority for those who want to expand their knowledge and sharpen their memory. It helps one to be stress-free and think in an uncommon way. Many believed that wearing or carrying Opal makes them more mentally alert and focused.

  • Awakens Spirituality

While associating the wearer with hope and inspiration, an Opal is acknowledged to awaken the spiritual powers. People consider meditating, manifesting, and doing other spiritual practices with Opal to induce a deeper understanding of oneself and the universe.

  • Connects to the Earth

Opal has a considerable connection with the earth and nature. It enhances the connection of the wearer to the natural world and fosters harmony and balance. These jewels are associated with the elements of Mother Nature, which bolsters their affinity to the earth.

  • Protection Against Negativity

The main work of Opal is to absorb negativity withing and outside the wearer. It dispels negativity and surrounds the aura of a person with positivity. It develops a protective shield around the wearer and protects them from negative vitalities.

  • Enhances Creativity and Intuition

Wearing Opal increases creative and intuitive abilities associated with inspiration and imagination. It opens the mind and makes it receptive while stimulating originality and inventiveness. It amplifies intuitive powers and wisdom that unlock their artistic potential.

  • Stimulates Every Chakra

Opal unclogs and fosters all the chakras, mainly the Third Eye and Heart chakras. Opals react and align all chakras pleasingly and show gratitude for all that elevated vibrancy. They are even excellent at discharging any constraint inside the body.

Astrological Meaning of October Birthstone Opal

Opal is the astrological gemstone of the celestial planet Venus, the ruling planet of Opal. It is connected with the natural elements earth and water. It is advised to wear Opal by astrologers when there is a wrong placement of Mars, Saturn, north and the south lunar nodes within their horoscope. Libra and Scorpio are two zodiacs that can wear Opal. Taurus and Pieces are other zodiacs that can wear this charming gemstone. According to astrology, Opal supports the connection between spouses and mates by permitting them to understand and appreciate each other.

How to Style Opal Jewelry in Extraordinary Ways?

To satisfy our taste buds, we use ketchup, seasoning, tabasco, and topping in our pizza. Similarly, accessories like pendants, rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc., are additional items to satisfy our styling requirements. So, join us to plunge into the mesmerizing play of the color of Opal jewelry.

  • Wear a lovely Opal pendant that makes your wide-leg denim jeans with a beautiful black top to make your casual college look enchanting. This pendant can be the best option if you are carrying a bohemian style. Pair the Opal pendant with different necklaces to create a free-spirited appearance.

  • If you are going to a concert and want a playful and eclectic attire, wear a gorgeous pair of Opal earrings. You can combine stud or lever-back earrings featuring Opal gemstones to create a fun and personalized ear stack with your shimmery tank top, leather jacket, and ripped shorts.

  • Want to create a stylish and modern aesthetic look for a road show? Wear a black T-shirt, jeans, or pants with a loose, open boyfriend shirt with your classy Opal bracelet. The lovely 925 sterling silver base creates an agile and elongating effect, drawing attention to your Opal bracelet.

  • Are you stressed about what to wear to your prom night, as it can be the most memorable thing? Pair a beautiful Opal necklace with a graceful magenta mermaid gown to make your day more memorable. You can add elegance to your style by adding dainty chains to make your neckline look more breathtaking.

Tourmaline: An Alternative Birthstone for October Buddies

A crystalline boron silicate mineral that is not restricted to one type or color is none other than a Tourmaline. It comes in various colors that can be mistaken for different gemstones, such as red Tourmaline for Ruby and Green Tourmaline for Emerald. With various varieties, a Tourmaline also delivers unlimited healing benefits to the wearer. Whether you desire protection in life or are willing to entirely mend the broken pieces of your heart and declare a big yes to the manifestations and the power of the universe, there is forever a Tourmaline standing by your side to get a blast of optimistic exuberance. This beautiful jewel is well-known for its mere attractiveness and exceptional restorative proficiency. They ought to be harbored and gently taken care of, just like Tourmaline cares for us. Every time you wear or carry Tourmaline, you will see the clouds of good luck moving with you.

Conclusive Statements

Who wants to end up buying things that they don't like? If you are an October-born or gemstone jewelry lover, this article is for you so that you can make good choices while shopping for your favorite piece. You can select Opal or Tourmaline as jewelry or merely keep it with you that resonates with your inner self and reinforces your journey toward recovery and self-discovery. So, October babies! With this blog, we tried to provide you with all the information needed regarding the October birthstone and its alternative stone, so go and shop for your birthstone jewelry now.