October Birthstone

October Birthstone

The bowels of the earth have created many delightful gems. However, some stones get to stand out even when being surrounded by the most precious peers. October birthstone, Opals, for example, have out-of-this-world beauty, and it is not for nothing that they are called petrified galaxies. Tourmaline pleases its wearers with enthralling color transitions and a unique brilliance multiplied in crystal facets. Both stones are symbols of October and the patron saints of Scorpio and Libra.

October Birthstone: Opal

Born as a result of the alchemy of the Earth, opal displays a stunning play of colors. Its appearance is compared to a firework and the universe itself. This mysterious gemstone is loved since time immemorial for its unique beauty as well as strong healing and magical properties.

The Sanskrit word ‘upalah’, which means a stone, migrated to Latin and Greek and gave opal its name. That being said, opal isn’t just a simple stone. This multi-faceted, eye-catching, and diverting gem is in a league of its own. It is so unique that you won’t be able to find two lookalike specimens.

Legends say that opal appeared after the victory of Zeus over the titans. The victorious god burst into tears with happiness, they dropped on the earth and turned into magnificent stones.

Opal embellished the crown of the Roman emperor Constantine, who claimed that the stone shone in the dark. The ruler was convinced that the gem protected his power and his life. He even mentioned that opal was able to make him invisible. These stories did not go unheard. Soon, opal became the talisman of thieves and everyone who wished to be inconspicuous.

At the same time, opal had tensions with other monarchs. Rumor has it that one of the Spanish princes lost his mind when opals were inserted into his crown. The relationship between Napoleon and Josephine fell apart when the emperor presented her with the opal "Fire of Troy". The English king Edward, frightened by the stories of the stone’s hostility, ordered to replace opals with rubies in his crown.

In fact, opals do not harbor negative energy. They only analyze the feelings and thoughts of their owners, amplify them, and turn them into reality. If you have a kind heart and good intentions, opal will become your best friend.

October birthstone is opal

Healing and Magical Properties of Opal Birthstone

Officially, opal isn’t a mineral due to the lack of a crystal lattice. Instead, it is a mineraloid, an amorphous substance resembling hardened hydrogel that features up to 30% of water. The heat of a human body is able to evaporate this water, which affects the brilliance of the gem. This property is widely used by healers to diagnose diseases and disorders.

If you really want to benefit from the medicinal and metaphysical properties of opal, you need to consider its color. The rarest black opal is ideal for individuals prone to irritability. The stone calms down, removes anxiety, treats depression, and relieves insomnia.

White opals give their owners self-confidence, tranquility, and harmony with their inner world. In some European countries, opal talismans are the best gift for creative people. It becomes a source of inspiration, helps best apply their talents, and shows innovative solutions to challenging problems.

Pink opals were used as an amulet and ritual stone by the Aztecs and Incas. It helped priests communicate with the higher powers and receive answers to their questions. The primal purpose of the gem is to remind people that their unity with nature is the most valuable thing in life. Besides that, opal is a stone of friendship. It is able to improve relationships between people and helps them understand each other. Opal is a conductor of love and passion. It is also capable of showing fake love. If a stone given by your partner cracks, this means that they have no real love in their heart. When it comes to its healing properties, pink opal affects metabolism, improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, plus it relieves inflammation.

October birthstone, opal bracelets for jewelry

October Birthstone: Tourmaline

Tourmaline’s beauty isn’t inferior to opal. Uniformly colored crystals are almost never found in nature. Red, pink, yellow, blue, green, and lilac tourmalines display stunning transitions from one tint to another. Moreover, one of the most valuable varieties of the stone combines three contrasting colors. Having a red color in the center, as it approaches the edges, it transforms into white and then into green. This unique appearance mimics a watermelon.

The mineral was first brought to Europe in 1703 by Dutch sailors. The peoples of Ceylon (this is where tourmalines were found) called them "turemali", which means a mineral or precious stone. With a couple of small modifications, the name took root as an official one. Today, we know that tourmaline is silicate featuring compounds of aluminum, boron, manganese and magnesium, as well as almost 25 chemical elements as admixtures. This is the reason for the wealth colors and patterns that the mineral delivers.

October birthstone is tourmaline

Healing Properties of Tourmaline Birthstone

The captivating mineral has been attributed with magical and healing qualities since ancient times. Lithotherapy and alternative medicine confirmed many of these properties and discovered even more ways to take advantage of tourmaline.

In the 19th century, the renowned physicists Pierre and Marie Curie noticed that tourmalines generate electricity when being introduced to heat. Their electric charge is similar to that of the human body. This provides a scientific explanation of the mineral’s ability to affect vital processes.

According to alternative medicine, negatively charged ions of tourmaline are capable of increasing vital energy, improving immunity, as well as strengthening the circulatory and nervous systems. To benefit from these health-promoting powers, you need to apply tourmaline to your skin.

At the same time, esotericists praise the protective properties of tourmalines. According to their beliefs, the stone harmonizes the inner world of a person and cleanse their aura. Black tourmaline possesses especially strong power. It is an excellent protector against negativity and adversity.

Regardless of its color, tourmaline brings peace of mind, relieves stress, and helps improve interpersonal relationships. The enchanting radiance of the stone inspires, ennobles thoughts, and strengthens the spirit.

October birthstone, tourmaline for jewelry making

October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline for Sale

October birthstone is too beautiful to be ignored. If you know someone born this month of the year, opal and tourmaline will make a perfect birthday gift. Whether you decide to present a single one-of-a-kind gem or carefully selected stones strung on a thread, KenKenGems has multiple options to offer. We source our gemstones from the best mines to ensure a generous choice of colors and patterns created by Mother Nature. Along with that, our prices are some of the lowest on the market. So what are you waiting for? Get to know the real allure of precious minerals with KenKenGems.

October birthstone, tourmaline beads for sale

October Birthstone collection for sale

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