Fall is definitely upon us – pumpkin patches are open, cider mills are bustling, and the crisp fall air reminds us that Halloween is nearly here. Although orange and red are all around us as the leaves change color, October is the time to THINK PINK. This month is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a great opportunity to celebrate survivors and hold onto cherished memories of those gone much too soon. As we continue to hope for a cure, we can sport PINK all month long. This special month has two birthstones, pink tourmaline and opal. Representing the spooky side of October, old folktales recount stories of witches using opals to cast spells and create magic. Halloween is a time to dress up and express yourself differently than normal, although opals are said to help ground you and allow you to be your true self. 

October Has Two Traditional Birthstones

Pink Tourmaline:

Although tourmaline comes in a multitude of colors, it is said that pink tourmaline is the most vibrant and beautiful of them all. Pink tourmaline is said to strengthen both the body and spirit of its wearer, and is thought to inspire creativity.  

• While pink is the most popular and widely used tourmaline in the jewelry industry, the most prized color is known as Paraiba. 
  • This is a rare neon blue to green variety of tourmaline that was discovered in 1989 in the Brazilian state of Paraiba.

• Until the 1700s, red tourmaline gemstones were often believed to be rubies, and green tourmalines were occasionally tagged as emeralds.
  • To finally understand the difference, it was discovered that heating tourmalines can create an electrical charge that resembles a magnet, although the gem attracts and repels lightweight particles, not metals. 

Opal:

Opals are very mysterious stones that are the center of many folktales. Some ancient societies believed the stone brought luck and was a sign of high status, while others believed it was only to be worn by sorcerers, witches, and wizards who used them for magical powers. Today, the common thought is that opals can bring about loyalty, faithfulness, and positive energy.

• There is some conjecture on how exactly the opal gemstone forms, but many believe that when water from rain seeps down into crevices in the rock. 
  • Once the water evaporates, the silica that is left behind dries out and hardens into precious opal.

• Opal has been found on Mars! 
  • It is the only gem besides peridot that has ever been discovered outside of our planet.