Oct-Opal

Oct-Opal

Those born in October enjoy two spectacular birthstones to mark their birthdays, including the opal and tourmaline. The October birthstones have endless color combinations and beautiful coloring characteristics. Explore these two October birthstones in more detail to discover just the right gift for birthdays in the tenth month of the year.

Opal Birthstone

Opal Birthstone Meaning & History

This is one of the traditional October birthstones. The name of this gemstone is said to have originated in India, the source of the first opals brought to the Western world, where in Sanskrit it was called upala, a "precious stone.". In ancient Rome, this became opals. Most opals are valued for their shifting colors in rainbow hues – a phenomenon known as "play-of-color."

Where Is Opal Found?

The opal birthstone can be found in many places. The fields of Australia are the most productive in the world for the October birthstone. Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil are also important sources. Additional deposits have been found in Central Europe, Honduras, Indonesia, Madagascar, Peru, Turkey, and the United States.

Famous for the prized black opal found there, Lightning Ridge is a tiny town in the northeastern corner of New South Wales, Australia. The entire place is a dry rocky area only softened by some scrub brush and small trees; it rarely receives rain, and on a summer's day it bakes. End.

Opal Birthstone Care & Cleaning

Opal may be impregnated with oil, wax, or plastic.

opal birthstone doublets or triplets are very thin slices of opal stuck to a backing material and capped with a thin dome of clear quartz. The only safe way to clean the October birthstone is with warm, soapy water. Other cleaning methods can damage the opal or filler material. Note that prolonged exposure to water may weaken the adhesive in opal doublets and triplets. Even natural opal can fracture if exposed to high heat or sudden temperature changes. This October birthstone is 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Store this gem by itself to avoid scratching the opal, as it is set in jewelry made with harder gems. Some gems that can scratch the October birthstone include diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.