October Birthstone the Opal and the Tourmaline are Libra’s birthstones.
I think that it is worth the mention to say that October Birthstone the Opal and the Tourmaline have a characteristic in common both come and shown a wide range spectrum of colors and both gems are compared with the rainbow.
A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a wave of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicolored circular arc. It takes sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.
“Jewelry needs to fulfill the function for which it came into being. The only way that a Jewelry Designer will see its art in LIFE is with the eyes, the mind, and the heart of the Spectator.
The viewer in the last stroke in any jewelry piece”.
– Ines Arenas Jewelry Gallery
The beautiful October Birthstone opal is formed from rain, there is some conjecture on how exactly this precious gemstone forms, but many believe it is formed when water from rain seeps down into crevasses in the rock. Once the water evaporates, the silica that is left behind dries out and hardens into precious opal. In the case of the tourmaline, the process by which is created is better known as the hypothermal process and it involves not only the water that is undissolved from the hot magma but rainwater.
This mix of water and minerals tends to fill the cracks in the magma as it cools and hardens into rock. Both October Birthstone gemstones are truly unique because each gem is adorned with a one-of-a-kind color combination, like the colors of the rainbow. Kalil Gibran said: “In one drop are found all the secrets of all the oceans” and maybe earth.
Happy Birthday to the ones born under the cool magma of these two rocks!
Best Option For Aries Birthstone
Opal: is ranked at #5 to #6.5 on the Mohs scale and very poor to fair in toughness. Sources are Australia—black and white opal, Brazil—white opal, and Mexico—fire opal.
Tourmaline: is ranked #7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and has fair in toughness. Sources are Afghanistan, Brazil-major source, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, and United States.
How To Choose the Best October Birthstone?
We are going, to be honest with you and tells you that buying an opal can get quite complicated.
There are a number of different types of opals available on the market and you will need to consider several factors, including type, size, color, pattern, and brilliance, to make sure you have a good value for your money.
Please know that are many types of opal that you will need to know about before you decide to buy. The following is a list of precious opals:
• Black opal-translucent to opaque with a play of color against a black or other dark body color. The industry supply of fine black opal is extremely limited.
• White opal- translucent to semitranslucent with a play of color against a white or light gray body color. White opals are generally available in a wide range of sizes.
• Boulder opal-translucent to opaque with a play of color against light to a dark background. Host-rock fragments, or matrix, are part of the finished gem
• Fire opal-translucent to translucent with brown, yellow, orange, or red body color. This material which often doesn’t show a play of color is also known as Mexican opal, Gold opal, or Sun opal. Fire opals are available in a wide range of sizes just like white opals.
Remember that the more intense and brighter the colors, the more expensive the opal will be. While blue and violet opals are more commonly found, red is rare and costs more. The opal you choose will largely depend on how much you are willing to spend.
The body color and tone of opal are critical factors that affect its beauty and value. The darker the tone of the opal, the more valuable it is. This is why dark body tone opals like this black opal ring generally cost much more than a white or milky opal like this one. This is because when the body tone is darker, the flashes of color are more pronounced. What you’re really paying for is the sharper and more intense colors emanating from the stone.
All October Birthstone opals have a brightness grading scale. This categorizes opals based on how intense the reflection of color is when penetrated by light. The grades are Dull/Subdued, Bright, and Brilliant.
As you may have already guessed, Brilliant grade opals are the brightest and contain eye-catching flashes of color, which make them the most expensive when you’re shopping for an opal. Dull/Subdued opals are the least valuable, appear milky, and have hardly any shine. Bright opals are average in terms of brightness.
The more expensive opals, like precious opals and black opals, display a range of gorgeous patterns caused by the deflection of colors. The larger the pattern, the more valuable the stone becomes.
However, there can be dead spots in patterns so watch out for this when you are buying your opal. Dead spots occur when the play of colors is absent from sections of the stone and can devalue the opal.
There are many different Opals depending on their pattern, so we are going to mention the most important ones according to the literature:
• Harlequin (mosaic): there are hard to come by due to being insufficient. The pattern looks like a mosaic made up of square patches. Can be very expensive, and we highly recommend that you buy it from a trusted seller and ask for a certificate.
• Ribbon Made up of strips of color running parallel like ribbons lying side by side Check to see if the strips contain different colors. This increases the value of the stone.
• Chinese writing: the pattern looks like Chinese characters, it has strips of single colors overlapping like Chinese characters. This kind of opal is very popular, very valuable but at the same time rare.
• Pictures: this pattern looks as its name is well pointed like a picture that resembles an object, face, or animal.
• Straw Contains thin lines of color arranged haphazardly. If the pattern has more red in it, it will be more expensive
Unlike diamonds, there is no rule that a large opal will be more valuable. The main things to watch out for are the quality of the color and body tone and the quantity of precious opal the stone has.
Regarding Clarity, Opals can be affected by a number of factors. There can be flaws or inclusions that reduce the overall value of the stone. Look out for breaking minor cracks which can be found on the surface of the opal. Also, check if there are any inclusions such as sand or rock that can be embedded within the opal. If these are large or visible to the naked eye, you might want to rethink buying the opal because not only will they impact the beauty of the stone, but they will also decrease its value.
Be aware that exist Synthetic Opals, meaning that they are lab-created gemstones with the same chemical formula as natural opal. However, these opals tend to show different patterns and densities. Something to look out for is a snake-skin pattern. It\’s redundant to say that synthetic opals are inexpensive and much less valuable than natural opals.
October Birthstone Tourmalines come in a wide variety of exciting colors. In fact, the tourmaline has one of the most and widest color ranges of any gem species. It occurs in various shades of almost every hue, and there are a number of trade names for its color varieties:
• Rubelitte-pink: red, purple-red, orangy red, or brownish-red.
• Indicolite-dark: violetish blue, blue, and greenish-blue.
• Paraiba tourmaline-intense: violetish blue, greenish blue, or blue from the state of Paraiba, Brazil. This Paraiba tourmaline was discovered in 1988.
• Chrome tourmaline: intense green. Much of this is colored by vanadium, the same element that colors many Brazilian and African emeralds.
• Particolored tourmaline: a tourmaline with more than one color. One of the most common combinations is green and pink, but many others are possible
• Watermelon tourmaline: pink in the center and green around the outside. Crystals of this material typically have a pink core surrounded by green, and they are cut in slices.
Some tourmalines also show chatoyancy (is showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone).
Cat’s-eye tourmalines are most often green, blue, or pink, with an eye that’s softer and more diffused than the eye in fine cat’s eye chrysoberyl.
Clarity indicates very often the quality of the gemstones but often, because tourmalines are formed in liquid-rich areas, the liquid can be caught within during the process of crystal growing, and The liquid runs parallel with the crystal, creating inclusions in the stone.
Usually, the color of the stone compensates for the clarity, but if the stone is a light tone and has low color intensity then the inclusions will be noticeable, bringing the value of the stone down. Usually, pink and red tourmalines are tolerated with inclusions, but with other colors, low clarity decreases the value.
However, in some cases, inclusions can actually increase the value of the stone. For example in the cat’s eye effect that some tourmalines display. If there are many parallel-running thin threadlike inclusions, and if the stone is expertly cut, this can result in a cat’s-eye tourmaline. Cat’s-eye tourmalines are rare and highly valued and are so named because they look like a cat’s eye when they reflect light.
October Birthstone Tourmalines generally absorb light lengthwise and not across the crystals. The depth of color, tone, and saturation can be manipulated based on the direction of the cut, an aspect that cutters consider at the moment of cut the stone. However, tourmaline is found in many popular gemstone shapes. Rough tourmaline also makes for beautiful, simple bohemian jewelry.
Color treatments such as heating to enhance the color of the stone or to improve the overall look of the stone injecting resin and oil, are used to increase the tone and saturation of the stone’s color, however, this fades over time due to light, heat, and exposure. This type of enhancement reduces the value of the stone so ensure that you know whether the stone has been enhanced prior to purchasing it. These treatments are standard in the jewelry industry and don’t affect their durability.
But at the same time be aware that Tourmalines that have undergone such treatment require more care as they can easily get damaged. They can also be much cheaper than unenhanced stones.
How To Take Care of Your October Birthstone Jewelry?
Like pearls, October Birthstone opals are delicate gemstones. They need to be looked after and maintained properly. Over time, opals will have scratches and marks which can cause them to appear dull. If this happens, take the opal back to an opal cutter who will professionally polish the stone for you, reviving its brilliance.
Always use mild detergent and warm water to wash off any grime or build-up on an opal. Ultrasonic cleaners, bleach, and chemicals are not for this delicate stone.
Also, if you are storing an opal for a long period of time, wrap it in cotton wool with a few drops of water to keep the stone from losing water in low humidity environments.
October Birthstone Tourmaline is a relatively durable gemstone with good durability and a hardness rating of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It’s a wearable gemstone and can withstand exposure well. With reasonable maintenance, you can keep the stone sparkling for a long time. Taking care of your tourmaline jewelry will keep it beautiful for years.
Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners as these can damage the gemstone. Instead, simply use a mild, non-abrasive liquid soap and warm water. Put a few drops of dishwashing liquid in water and soak the jewelry for 2 to 3 minutes. When you take it out it should be clean. If it is still dirty, gently wipe it with a wet cloth or use a soft brush. Ensure that you rinse the piece thoroughly and dry it carefully before you store it away. Substances with a higher hardness ranking, such as diamonds, can scratch and damage a tourmaline. Always store tourmaline jewelry separately, in a jewelry box or a fabric pouch.
