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Tourmaline is the traditional birthstone for October, and is given as the gemstone for the 8th anniversary. It is associated with balance, endurance, and safety. Most people consider tourmaline to be a single mineral. But in fact it is a group named for several different, but closely related minerals.
Elbaite is the tourmaline mineral that is most often found in jewelry, as its color is extremely variable with the most common colors being red, pink, green, blue, orange and yellow. Elbaite has many variety names based on color.
The pink to red variety is called rubellite. Often a specimen can have more than one color zone in the same crystal, with the most famous variety being a pink and green combination called watermelon tourmaline. Uvite is a green translucent to opaque tourmaline that is growing in popularity and is being cut as a gemstone.
Romans called opals “Cupid paederos” -- a child as beautiful as love. They believed that opals were pieces of heaven that got knocked down during violent thunderstorms, falling to Earth in a flash of lightning. Opals were thought to bring wisdom and good fortune; however, there is a superstition that an opal you buy for yourself can bring you bad luck, but is not bad luck if received as a gift.
An opal will cut glass just like a diamond, but it stands alone as the only non-crystalline gemstone. In addition to being the October birthstone, opals are given for the 14th wedding anniversary.
This gemstone actually contains up to 30% water, so it must be protected from heat or harsh chemicals, both of which will cause drying and may lead to cracking and loss of iridescence. Opal must also be guarded from blows, since it is relatively soft and breaks easily.
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