While the diamond has been deemed the most popular stone in the world, it is important not to disregard the other types of gemstones that exist. Each and every month of the year has been dubbed with one or more gemstones. While the diamond represents those who were born in April, those born in October are rather blessed by two very unique gemstones – the opal and the tourmaline gemstones. In this post, we would like to take a closer look a each of these particular stones that have been dubbed the birthstones of October, so that it becomes easier for you to choose between these two when you would like to buy a gemstone that matches your birth month.
Opal – The Primary Birthstone Of October
Let’s start our overview of October’s birthstones by looking at the primary gemstone awarded to those born in this particular month – the opal gemstone. The opal is quite a unique stone and features a primary color that may either include black or white. In addition to featuring this particular primary color, the stone also features a kaleidoscope effect; thus the stone is often said to express a large variety of colors. All colors that can be found in a rainbow can be seen in this particular stone. Both the white and the black primary colors provide a really great look for the opal gemstone.
An opal does not rank as high as a diamond on the Mohs scale of hardness, ranking in at number six. For this reason, it should be noted that this stone is not very durable, but when used for jewelry such as a pair of earrings, they should be fine when worn as an everyday item. Should a person decide to use an opal in a more delicate piece of jewelry, such as a ring, they may want to keep that jewelry only for special occasions.
Tourmaline – The Secondary Birthstone Of October
Not everyone has the same taste when it comes to fashion and jewelry; thus those born in October will be happy to know that if they do not like the opal gemstone, they do have an alternative choice. The tourmaline gemstone has been dubbed the secondary birthstone of October, and tends to be the perfect alternative to the opal gemstone. These stones contain a large variety of minerals inside them; thus causing them to be quite colorful. The first recorded evidence of the tourmaline gemstone has been dated back to the 16th century, and it seems like the stone was first officially recorded in Brazil throughout history, although markings of the stone have been dated back to earlier times.
Tourmaline has a slightly higher ranking on the Mohs scale of hardness. While the opal gemstone ranks at six, tourmaline usually ranks between seven and 7.5, depending on the stone’s quality. For this reason, tourmaline is considered to be a more durable gemstone as compared to opal; thus making for a better choice should a person wish to use the stone in everyday jewelry.
Conclusion
Both the opal and tourmaline gemstone has been dubbed birthstones for those individuals who were born in the month of October. Each of these particular gemstones has unique properties that will make them stand out to a specific group of people born in October. This, however, often makes it somewhat difficult for a person to choose which stone they should opt for. In this post, we have taken a closer look at the particular properties of each stone; thus making the choice between them much easier.
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