October birthstone: Opal and tourmaline jewellery to get for your birth month

Born in the month of October? Well, you'll be glad to know that you not only have one, but two spectacular birthstones to commemorate your birthdays – opal and tourmaline. What's more, unlike the other birthstones, these two have endless colour combinations, which make them stand out from the rest. While white opals are the most common and popular, opals have hues ranging across the whole colour spectrum including black opals, pearlescent pinks, pale greens, and more. And like opal, tourmaline is also admired for its wide variety of colours, with pink tourmalines being the most popular option for October birthstone birthday gifts.

But what do the two birthstones represent you might ask?

Opal

This birthstone was first believed to have originated in India. In the past, opals were also believed to symbolise purity and hope due to their celestial colouring. Aside from it being known as a birthstone, the opal is also usually given as a gift for the traditional 14^th wedding anniversary.

Tourmaline

Derived from the Sinhalese word “toramalli,” which translates to “stone with mixed colours”, the tourmaline feature multiple colours in one crystal formation. And while they do come in different colours, each one of them is believed to have different healing properties or powers. Take, for instance, pink tourmaline is usually associated with gentleness, compassion, joy, and love; black tourmaline encourages protection and grounding; yellow tourmaline encourages inventiveness and creativity; and green tourmaline represents rejuvenation and revitalisation. In addition to being one of October’s birthstones, tourmaline is also given as the 8th wedding anniversary gift.

Now that you've figured out what each birthstone represents, we've done the legwork to suss out some of the beautiful jewellery pieces that feature these birthstones that you can add to your collection.

14-karat recycled gold opal ring, $1,134, Melissa Joy Manning from Net-a-Porter

Credit: Net-a-Porter

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14-karat gold opal necklace, $928, Melissa Joy Manning from Net-a-Porter

Credit: Net-a-Porter

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Just the Two of Us 10-karat gold, sapphire and tourmaline necklace, $547, Stone & Strand from Net-a-Porter

Credit: Net-a-Porter

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10K Gold Lauren Pink Tourmaline Necklace, $290, By Invite Only

Credit: By Invite Only

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Diamond and Pink Opal Circle Pendant, $5,900, Tiffany & Co.

Credit: Tiffany & Co.

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October Birthstone Necklace, $126, Linjer

Credit: Linjer

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Opal Square Ring, $4,800, Callalily

Credit: Callalily

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“Dreamlike Feel” Blue Opal Sterling Silver Drop Earrings, $187.50, Jeulia

Credit: Jeulia

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Tourmaline Sunset Ring, $5,500, Orient Atelier

Credit: Orient Atelier

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