October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline Meaning, Colour and Gift Ideas

What is the October Birthstone?

October gets two birthstones, and they are both show-offs. The October birthstones are opal and tourmaline: opal with its soft, milky glow and flashes of colour, and tourmaline, the gem that comes in more colours than any other. Between them they cover every shade of an autumn woodland and a few that nature usually keeps to itself.

This guide covers both stones: what they mean, what colour they are, where the tradition comes from, and how to choose a piece for yourself or for the October soul in your life. You can browse our handmade October birthstone jewellery whenever you like.

October Birthstones at a Glance

Birthstone	Opal	Tourmaline
Colour	Milky white, pink, peach or fiery orange, sometimes with flashes of rainbow colour	Every colour, with pink the classic October choice
Meaning	Creativity, inspiration and imagination	Protection, balance and compassion
Chakra	Crown and sacral	Heart (pink), root (black)
Mineral	Hydrated silica	Boron silicate
Found in	Australia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Peru	Brazil, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria
Mohs hardness	5.5 to 6.5	7 to 7.5
Zodiac	Libra (23 September to 22 October) and Scorpio (23 October to 21 November)

What Colour is the October Birthstone?

There is no single October birthstone colour, which is half the fun. Opal is usually milky and soft, and the most precious kind shows play of colour: little flashes of rainbow that move as you turn the stone. Our favourite is Peruvian pink opal, a gentle candyfloss pink that looks like a sunrise caught in stone.

Tourmaline comes in more colours than any other gem: pink, green, blue, black, and sometimes several at once. If you want one colour for October, it is pink. Pink tourmaline is the shade most often chosen as the October birthstone, and it sits beautifully next to pink opal.

October Birthstone Meaning

Opal Meaning

Opal is the stone of creativity and imagination. Its shifting colours have always made people think of inspiration, the spark of an idea that changes shape the longer you look at it. It is linked with the crown and sacral chakras, and it is a lovely companion for artists, writers, dreamers and anyone starting something new. Opal is also a stone of emotional expression: wear it when you want to feel brave enough to show your true colours.

Tourmaline Meaning

Tourmaline is a stone of protection, balance and compassion, and each colour has its own character.

• Pink tourmaline meaning: love, gentleness and kindness, especially kindness to yourself. It is a heart chakra stone and a sweet gift for someone you adore.
• Black tourmaline meaning: grounding and protection. It is the classic stone for shielding against negative energy and features in our guide to the most powerful gemstones for protection.
• Watermelon tourmaline: pink in the middle and green round the edge, just like a slice of watermelon. It is associated with joy, playfulness and an open heart.

The History of Opal and Tourmaline

Both stones come with brilliant stories.

• The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described opal as holding the fire of the ruby, the purple of amethyst and the green of emerald all at once.
• Opal's old reputation for bad luck came largely from Sir Walter Scott's 1829 novel Anne of Geierstein, in which an enchanted opal loses its colour. Sales of opal in Europe dropped for decades, which seems a little unfair on the stone.
• The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese turmali, a word used in Sri Lanka for mixed gemstones. For centuries tourmaline was mistaken for other gems, including some "rubies" in old royal collections.
• Rub or warm a tourmaline crystal and it picks up a small electric charge. Dutch traders are said to have used tourmaline to pull ash out of their pipes, earning it the nickname aschentrekker, "ash puller".
• China's Empress Dowager Cixi adored pink tourmaline and bought huge quantities of it from California in the late 1800s.

Why Does October Have Two Birthstones?

Opal is the traditional October birthstone and has been linked with the month for centuries. When jewellers drew up the modern birthstone list in the twentieth century, tourmaline was added alongside it. Part of the reason was practical: opal is soft and needs a little care, so tourmaline gave October babies a tougher option for everyday rings and bracelets. Today you can choose either, or wear both together.

Opal or Tourmaline: Which October Birthstone Should You Choose?

• Choose opal if you love soft, dreamy colours and want a stone of creativity and imagination. Pink opal is gentle and easy to wear with everything.
• Choose pink tourmaline if you want a richer pink, a stone of love and kindness, or something hard-wearing for every day.
• Choose black tourmaline if the October birthday person is drawn to grounding, protective stones and darker, moodier jewellery.

October Birthstones and the Zodiac

October is shared by two signs. Harmony-seeking Libra (23 September to 22 October) is a natural match for tourmaline, a stone of balance, and for pink opal's soft, romantic glow. Intense, magnetic Scorpio (23 October to 21 November) suits black tourmaline's protective energy and opal's hidden fire. For more star-sign pairings, have a read of our guide to gemstone jewellery for your zodiac sign.

How to Wear and Care for Your October Birthstone

Tourmaline is tough and happy to be worn every day. Opal is softer and contains a little water inside it, so it likes a bit of extra kindness.

• Keep opal away from heat and harsh chemicals. Take it off before swimming, cleaning or applying perfume.
• Clean gently. Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft cloth work for both stones. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
• Store them separately. Tourmaline can scratch opal, so give each its own soft pouch.

To keep their energy feeling fresh, see our guide to cleansing your crystals. Moonlight and smoke are the gentlest methods for opal.

October Birthstone Jewellery and Gift Ideas

An October birthday arrives with falling leaves and the first crisp mornings, and a birthstone is a gift that feels personal without trying too hard. Here are a few of our favourites.

• Our small Peruvian pink opal wolf necklace is hand carved, one of a kind and a little bit wild. See the rest of the pack in our wolf necklaces.
• For something delicate, our pink opal vegan silk leaf necklace is light and easy to layer.
• Pink tourmaline lovers will find beaded sterling silver necklaces in our tourmaline jewellery, and our black tourmaline pieces suit anyone who loves something darker.
• Looking for an October birthstone necklace, bracelet or ring? See everything in our October birthstone jewellery collection, browse our gift ideas, or let them choose with a gift voucher.

Every piece is cleansed, energy infused, vegan and cruelty free, and 5% of all proceeds go to Pacific Wild to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest.

October Birthstone FAQs

What is the birthstone for October?

October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Opal is the traditional stone and tourmaline is the modern alternative.

What colour is the October birthstone?

Opal is usually milky white, pink or orange, sometimes with rainbow flashes. Tourmaline comes in every colour, and pink tourmaline is the classic October shade.

What does the October birthstone mean?

Opal stands for creativity, inspiration and imagination. Tourmaline stands for protection, balance and compassion, with pink tourmaline linked to love and kindness.

Is opal or tourmaline the October birthstone?

Both. Opal has the longer history, and tourmaline was added to the modern birthstone list as a harder-wearing alternative.

Is opal unlucky?

No. The idea comes mostly from a nineteenth-century novel. In older traditions opal was considered one of the luckiest stones of all.

What is the birthstone for Libra and Scorpio?

October-born Libras and Scorpios share opal and tourmaline. Libras often love pink tourmaline and pink opal; Scorpios are drawn to black tourmaline.

Can I wear opal every day?

Yes, with a little care. Keep it away from heat, chemicals and knocks, and take it off for swimming and cleaning.

Explore More Birthstones

Shopping for another month? See every stone in our guide to birthstone jewellery by month, read about November's topaz and citrine, or lose yourself in our A-Z crystal guide.