Here in the UK the season has well and truly settled into autumn. The air is colder, the trees are turning a gorgeous array of colours, and the spooky season is upon us. October is a special time of year, and so it makes sense that the traditional October birthstone is one that has a sense of magic and wonder - the Opal.
Australia has some of the most productive opal fields in the world, including Lightning Ridge which is famed for producing the black opal. Australian aboriginal traditions view opals as sacred, symbolic of a promise of hope from the creator for future generations. Similar connections of the earth and divine are woven into the history of this precious stone across many different ancient civilisations and societies, and many of those ideas resonate with people today. The October birthstone is often used for spiritual insight and to enhance intuition.
For Libras born in October, the opal is a kindred spirit with its planetary ruler also being Venus - the planet of love, beauty and art. This October birthstone is said to enhance the potential of Libra’s personality, and it is thought the best way to wear the opal is by pendant, ring or bracelet so that the precious stone is in constant contact with your skin, keeping its energies flowing through you.
For the October born Scorpio, opals match their complex and multi-faceted personality, and their shifting colours mirror the Scorpio’s hidden power beneath the surface. The black opal is a particularly strong match for a Scorpio born in October, connecting to their bold and protective energy, making it a perfect match as their October birthstone of choice.
Opals are one of the more delicate gemstones created by the earth, rating 5 to 6.5 of the Mohs scale of hardness. This means they can be scratched by harder stones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, and by the alternative October birthstone, the Tourmaline.
Tourmaline was introduced as a new October birthstone as it has a similar range of mixed colours, but its hardness makes it a little less delicate and therefore more suited for daily wear. Among the most popular colours are pink and red rubelites, chrome tourmalines which are a deep gorgeous emerald green, and paraiba tourmalines which have an almost electric and neon blue tone. Because of the vast range of colours, tourmaline has historically been mistaken for other gemstones, most famously one of the “rubies” in the Russian crown jewels, named the Caesar’s Ruby, is actually a red rubellite tourmaline.
If you’re looking for an October birthstone set within a timeless and piece of bespoke jewellery, then our founder and designer Corrine is the perfect collaborator to bring your vision to life. Corinne can also bring new life to a sentimental piece of jewellery with our jewellery remodelling service. Lulu & Boo’s passion for sustainability extends to preloved pieces that hold precious and significant stories and memories that can be transformed into something timeless and deeply personal, giving them even more years of love for generations to come.
