October Birthstone Jewelry - Opal and Tourmaline

Opal is a stone with a play of color (display of rainbow like hues which changes with the angle of observation) and is often referred to as the Queen of gems.  Opal comes in several varieties including the following:   white opal with vibrant pastel flashes, black opal (dark gray, dark blue, dark green and gray black) with color play, boulder opal with dark base with color play, and  Fire or Mexican Opal with yellow, orange or red color.   Dendrite Opal is a common opal with a glow but  no color play.  Opal is a 6 on Moh's scale of mineral hardness.

Tourmaline is a very diverse gemstone and is the most colorful of all gems.  Pink Tourmaline is the official birthstone color, but tourmaline comes in a rainbow of colors and color combinations.  Intense pink and green are the most desirable colors.  Varieties include the following:  Pariba (vivid blue/green),Rubellite (red), Indicolite (dark blue), Achroite (colorless), Vedilite (green), Dravite (dark brown), Chrome (green) and Canary (yellow).  Tourmaline also comes bi color or tri color.  The most common is a pink and mint green called watermelon tourmaline.  Tourmaline is a 7 to 7.5 on Moh's scale of mineral hardness.

Metaphysical Properties:  Many believe that Opals hold the power to enhance one's psychic abilities and promote spiritual growth.  As a result, they are used in meditation and spiritual practices.  Tourmaline balances masculine and feminine energy (yin and yang).  It counters anger and resentment.

Opal Varieties

Tourmaline Varieties