Those who are born in October are lucky enough to have two beautiful birthstones, Opal and Tourmaline! Both of these make stunning jewellery and have fascinating stories to tell, but today we’ll be focusing on the most well-known of the two - the magical Opal!
The name Opal is derived from two words; the Latin word ‘opalus’ meaning “precious stone”, and the Greek word ‘opallios’ which means “to see a change in colour”. Opals have always been most known for their gorgeous shifting colours which have been described by many writers as galaxies, fireworks, and volcanoes. This unique quality is generally referred to as ‘Play of Colour’ and this is what jewellers look for when determining the quality of an opal.
So, how does a gemstone with so much colour even form? Opals are actually the product of rain millions of years ago. The rain would run down through the earth, collecting a substance called silica as it went, before settling into the cracks and voids. Once the water evaporates, the remaining silica in the deposit forms a gel which then hardens over time. The colour shifting effect is created by light hitting and refracting from the spheres of silica within the gem.
Opals can be found all over the world but the majority of the mysterious opal is mined in Australia, the stone being considered their national gemstone. Although, there are other important opal sources in Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil.
For thousands of years Opals have been interpreted as having a variety of meanings, the most well known meanings being that they symbolise love, purity and truth. Many also consider opals to be the luckiest of stones and the most magical due to it containing so many colours.
The Romans believed that opals symbolised love and hope. One famous Roman being Mark Anthony who purchased a beautiful opal for his love Cleopatra. Quite differently to Romans, the Greeks believed that wearing opal jewellery would protect their owners from disease, as well as supposedly giving them the power of prophecy. Meanwhile, the indigenous people of Australia tell the tale of opals being made when the creator would come down to the world by rainbow and where they walked became the gemstones.
Due to the nature of how opals are made and their high water content, opals can be prone to cracking and are a rather soft stone - only having a hardness rating of 5 to 6.5. Because of this, we recommend only cleaning your opal jewellery gently in warm, soapy water. Do not use any chemical cleaners and it is strongly advised to keep the opal away from high heat or sudden temperature changes as this can also result in cracking the stone.
When storing your opals, it is also recommended to keep them away from any much harder stones that could possibly scratch and damage them. Perhaps keep your opals separate in organza bags so they don’t risk knocking against other jewellery. Some stones to look out for that could easily damage your opals are diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.
One of the many lovely opal pieces we have in our collection is this stunning open hook silver bangle with blue opalite from Lavan Jewellery, handmade by David Weinberger. An elagant and unusual piece that would make the perfect gift for any jewellery lover.
Also from Lavan Jewellery are these beautiful dark blue opalite stud earrings feature a sparkling gem inside a silver disc which glistens at every turn. It's set on a silver post with butterfly back. It's a stunning effect that would suit anyone who loves a little subtle glamour, elegance and colour.
With Lavan Jewellery being one of our biggest suppliers of opalite jewellery, they have a whole range of different pieces - so there's truly something for everyone! Such as this unusual and beautiful swirl silver wire pendant which has been set with domed blue and white opalites and embellished with a dangling blue opal bead, perfect for any lover of classic jewellery with a twist.
You can find more of Lavan's beautiful opalite jewellery here...
Similar to opals, October’s other birthstone is also famed for its colours. Tourmaline is a beautiful gemstone which can come in a whole variety of colours, from green to red to blue. It is even known for the occurrence of multiple tones of colour in just one crystal. It was this that made ancient mystics believe that Tourmaline could inspire creativity and the name comes from the Sinhalese word ‘toramalli’ meaning “stone with mixed colours”.
Tourmaline is most commonly found in Brazil and is mined in a range of colours, each being interpreted as having different meanings. However, this full colour spectrum also means that it’s often mistaken for being other gems - in fact, even one of the Russian crown jewel ‘rubies’ is actually a red tourmaline!
Rating higher on the hardness scale at 7 to 7.5, Tourmalines are perfect for everyday wear and can withstand most chemicals so you can use a specialist jewellery cleaner for gemstones on it. However, some warm, soapy water and a soft brush will also have them sparkling once again.
This gorgeous beaten silver ring with pink tourmaline by Fi Mehra is a simple yet beautiful addition to any pink lover's jewellery collection. This ring looks lovely on its own and even better when stacked with a set on your finger.
These beautiful marquise silver stud earrings with blue tourmaline by Amanda Coleman are the perfect stud earring for all-day wear, featuring a marquise cut gemstone surrounded by a petal motif.
This delightful bird on branch gold plated necklace is another stunning piece by Amanda Coleman. A tiny little bird sits on a long branch with leaves below, tourmaline beads finishing off the design beautifully. A very pretty piece, perfect for any lover of birds.
You can find more gorgeous work by Amanda Coleman here...
You can see more from our fantastic Fi Mehra collection here...