Birthstone October

Opal

October has two birthstones – Opal and Tourmaline.


The name Opal is derived from the Sanskrit word “upala,” as well as the Latin “opalus,” meaning “precious stone.” 
To ancient Romans, the Opal was a symbol of love and hope.
In the Middle-ages the Opal was supposed to maintain a strong heart, prevent fainting, protect against infection, and cleanse foul-smelling air.
Shakespeare wrote of the Opal in the Twelfth Night as the “queen of gems".
Interestingly Australian aborigines see the Opal in a different light, to them the Opal is the devil that lurks in the ground, a half-serpent and half-human with flashes of wicked magic that lures men to destruction, would be fun to hear the story behind that belief.

Tourmaline comes in many colors; black, brown, blue, pink, green, yellow and the nameTourmaline is believed to derive from the Singhalese (Sri Lankan) word “toramalli,” a term applied to stones, that means “something little out of the earth.”
Tourmaline is a relatively new discovery and therefore lacks in interesting old stories about its abilities, although the stone is known as a protector and "peace stone", believed to dispel fear. 

Tourmalines