October Birthstone: Opal & Tourmaline
October is one of the lucky months with two birthstones to choose from: opal and tourmaline. Here is what each stone means, how to care for them, and which makes the better gift.
Key takeaways
- October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline, per the modern list from the American Gem Society.
- Opal is prized for its play-of-colour, the shifting flashes of spectral colour that no two stones share.
- Opal is a soft stone at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and needs protective settings and gentle care.
- Tourmaline is the tougher October choice at 7 to 7.5 Mohs and comes in a wider colour range than almost any other gem.
- October's stones make good 14th wedding anniversary gifts, since opal is the traditional stone for that year.
- We set both stones by hand in our Coquitlam workshop and steer opal buyers toward bezels and pendants that shield the stone.
What is the October birthstone?
October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Both sit on the modern birthstone list, and neither is the "correct" one over the other, so an October baby genuinely gets to choose. Opal is the older, more traditional pick and the more delicate one; tourmaline was added because it offers the same riot of colour with far more durability. If you want the year at a glance before deciding, our birthstones guide covers all twelve months, and the sections below weigh the two October stones honestly.
Opal: colour and everyday wear
Opal's signature is play-of-colour: those darting flashes of red, green, and blue that shift as the stone or the light moves. It comes from opal's internal structure of tiny silica spheres, which split light the way a diffraction grating does. Because that pattern is unique to each stone, no two opals flash the same way, and choosing one is less about grading charts than about which stone catches your eye. White opal, black opal, and the translucent water opal are the main types you will meet.
The honest caveat is hardness. Opal sits at just 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it is far softer than quartz-based stones and scratches and chips more easily than most gems people wear daily. It also holds a small amount of water and can craze, or develop fine surface cracks, if it dries out or takes a hard temperature swing. None of this means avoid opal; it means set it sensibly. The IGS durability guide is worth reading if you want to understand where opal sits against tougher stones.
The meaning and history of opal
Opal has long been associated with hope, creativity, and good fortune, and the Romans reportedly ranked it among their most valued gems. There is a stubborn superstition that opals bring bad luck, but that is usually traced to a nineteenth-century novel rather than any real tradition, and Queen Victoria did a lot to rehabilitate the stone by wearing and gifting it. We mention the folklore only to dismiss it: opal has a far longer history as a symbol of good fortune than of misfortune.
Tourmaline: the tougher October option
If opal's fragility worries you, tourmaline is the answer. It runs 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, hard enough for daily rings, and it comes in a broader colour range than almost any other gem: pink, green, blue, and the two-tone "watermelon" tourmaline that is pink at the centre and green at the rim. Vivid pink-red rubellite and the electric blue-green Paraiba are the collector favourites. For someone who wants an October stone in an everyday ring, we usually point them to tourmaline first. Our broader gemstone guide has more on the colour varieties.
Choosing an October piece
Match the stone to the wearer's hands. If the birthday person is hard on jewellery, tourmaline in a ring is the sensible call. If they love opal's colour play and will accept a little care, keep the opal off the knuckle: a pendant or earrings take almost no knocks, and opal looks magnificent set against a dark backing that deepens the flashes. When we do set opal in a ring, we favour a bezel, which wraps a protective rim of metal around the stone's edge where chips start. We design and set both stones by hand in our Coquitlam workshop, so we can build the mount around the individual stone rather than dropping it into a stock setting. October's opal is also the traditional stone for a 14th wedding anniversary, so a birthday commission can quietly mark that too; several of our bespoke anniversary pieces started life as an October birthday brief.
Caring for a soft stone like opal
Opal needs a gentler routine than most gems. Clean it with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap, never an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, since both can drive water into the stone or shock it into crazing. Take opal rings off before gardening, cleaning, or the gym, and avoid leaving the stone somewhere hot and dry, like a sunny windowsill or a car dashboard, because losing its trace of water is what makes an opal crack. Store it away from harder stones so nothing scratches it in a drawer. Doublets and triplets, which are thin opal layers bonded to a backing, should never be soaked, as water can lift the bond. Bring the piece in and we will tell you what you have and how to look after it.
Mark a October birthday in the right stone
Bring the month, the stone and a rough budget. Our on-site goldsmith in Coquitlam will design it with you — set a gem you already own, or build something new around your birthstone.
Prefer to talk? Call our studio at (604) 653-6449.Frequently asked questions
What is the birthstone for October?
October has two modern birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Either is a valid choice, so you can pick based on colour preference and how hard the piece will be worn.
Why does October have two birthstones?
Opal is the older, traditional October stone but it is delicate. Tourmaline was added to the modern list as a more durable option that offers a similar range of colour.
What is play-of-colour in an opal?
It is the shifting flashes of spectral colour opal is famous for, caused by tiny silica spheres inside the stone splitting light. Because the internal pattern is unique to each stone, no two opals look alike.
Is opal too soft to wear?
Opal is soft at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it scratches and chips more easily than most gems. It is best kept in pendants or earrings, or set in a protective bezel if used in a ring.
How hard is tourmaline compared with opal?
Tourmaline is 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, noticeably harder than opal's 5.5 to 6.5, which makes it the better choice for an everyday ring.
Are opals really bad luck?
No. The bad-luck idea is usually traced to a nineteenth-century novel, not any real tradition. Opal has a far longer history as a symbol of hope and good fortune.
How should I clean an opal?
Use a soft, damp cloth and mild soap only. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, keep the stone away from heat and dryness, and never soak opal doublets or triplets, as water can lift the bond.
Is an October stone good for a wedding anniversary?
Yes. Opal is the traditional stone for a 14th wedding anniversary, so an October birthday piece can also mark that milestone.
Can Vanhess build a setting around my own opal?
Yes. We design and set by hand in our Coquitlam workshop and can build a protective mount around an individual opal or tourmaline you already own.