Birthstone Jewelry

October - Opal & Tourmaline

Creativity - Soulfulness - Freedom

Opal has always been associated with love and passion. It is a seductive stone that intensifies emotional states and releases inhibitions. It can also act as an emotional stabilizer. Wearing an opal is said to bring about loyalty and faithfulness. It is also considered to enhance the creativity and artistic abilities of a person. Opal is believed to bring good fortune, peace, joy, and wealth to the wearer. Opal helps the wearer to have a pleasing personality. It assists in gaining self-confidence and utilize one's potential to fullest.

In ancient times, the opal was one of the most highly prized gemstones of all. Its ability to reveal all the colors of the rainbow and be diverse in appearance made it all the more valuable and luxurious. They can take on all kinds of colors, patterns, and levels of opacity. The two main varieties of opal stones are “precious opal” and “common opal.” Precious opals show what’s known as a “play of color.” The most valuable opals have the most visible, intense, and consistent color—a factor determined by how densely the stone’s silica spheres are packed and how consistent they are when it comes to shape and size. Beautiful varieties of precious opal are the black opal and the Australian boulder opal, Ethiopian opal, white opal, and fire opal. Common opals do not feature a play of color. Instead, they’re translucent or opaque, without those mesmerizing rainbow flecks. However, common opals come in many beautiful color varieties. Pink opal, blue opal, and green opal are all examples of natural opal stones classified in the “common opal” category.

How to Care for Opal Jewelry: Opal is a precious gemstone that when cared for correctly will last a lifetime and can be handed down throughout generations. Opals are more delicate than other gemstones, but they can still be worn daily as long as some simple rules are followed. Remove your opal jewelry before playing sports, gardening, household cleaning and bathing. Avoid knocking or scraping the stone; protect it from scratches and blows. Remember, exposed corners can chip. Opals should never be subjected to harsh cleansers or an ultrasonic cleaning. They should also not be exposed to abrasive chemicals, acids or oils. Instead, softly rub with facial tissue or a piece of silk. Clean gently with mild detergent in room-temperature water and a soft toothbrush or cloth, and rinse to remove any residue. Opals are very porous; do not soak them, and never immerse a doublet or triplet. Even though opals contain water (up to 20%), they may become brittle. It’s imperative that they aren’t stored too dry or exposed to heat over a long period of time, causing them to crack and craze. With this in mind, store your opal jewelry in a padded cloth bag. For long-term storage, place the opal in cotton wool with a few drops of water and seal in a plastic bag. Keep in a dark place.

Compassion — Wisdom — Protection

Black tourmaline — This stone is said to be able to reflect negative energy.
Pink tourmaline — The pink color of the stone is a link to a person's emotions.
Red tourmaline — A stone that is said to enhance inner strength and wisdom.
Purple tourmaline — The purple mineral is considered a stone of protection and tranquility.
Blue tourmaline — Valued for the qualities of bringing tranquility and peace.
Green tourmaline — The green tourmaline is considered healing for the heart.
Brown tourmaline — This mineral helps to restore balance and serenity.
Watermelon tourmaline — Can help in attracting money and friendship, as well as promoting compassion.

Rumored to be born from the rare energy of the rainbow, tourmaline’s many shades ripple with imaginative play, joyful generosity, and attracting perfect prosperity. Created from silicate minerals, these precious stones can be found in a range of colors. One of the most well known is the midnight hued stone of the black tourmaline, but for those craving a splash of color, you can find tourmaline crystals in brighter shades of pink, green, purple, and even medley like rainbow shades or the color of watermelon. “Parti-colored” tourmalines exhibit two or more colors in a single gem. “Bicolor” tourmaline displays two distinct color zones. Paraíba tourmaline is a trade term for vividly saturated green to blue or violet copper-bearing elbaite tourmaline. Rubellite refers to pink to red elbaite tourmaline. Indicolite refers to the blue variety. Chrome tourmaline is a trade term for vibrant green tourmaline. Tourmaline gemstones can be cut into many shapes and sizes, often as faceted gems, cabochons, polished crystal slices or mineral specimens. Cutters often fashion tourmalines as long rectangles. Tourmaline is generally stable to light and isn’t affected by exposure to chemicals, but heat can damage a tourmaline. High heat can alter the color, and sudden temperature change (thermal shock) can cause fracturing. Some tourmalines might have been treated to improve their color. The two most important tourmaline treatments are heating and irradiation.

Care for Your Tourmaline Jewelry: To minimize scratching and wear, store each piece of fine jewelry separately in a soft cloth or padded container. Exposure to high heat is not recommended. Strong heat may alter color and sudden temperature changes may cause fracturing. Tourmaline jewelry is best cleaned with warm, sudsy water and a tightly woven microfiber or other soft cloth.