OCTOBER #BIRTHSTONES REFLECT AUTUMN COLORS: #OPALS, #TOURMALINES

If you live in North America, you know the beautiful autumn season with its magnificent colours is nearly upon us. And if you're an October baby, you have your choice of 2 glorious gemstones to celebrate your birthday: opal and tourmaline. Take a look, for starters, at the incredible "fall" colours displayed in this Mozambique tourmaline I found in ChouhanStylish's shop on #ETSY

What a magnificent display of reds and yellows...just like we'll soon be seeing all around us as those leaves come tumbling down. Just picture that stone set in a ring or necklace. That is what ChouhanStylish can make for you. And here's another really pretty multicoloured tourmaline ring from AnemoneUnique at ETSY:

That particular tourmaline is known as a "watermelon" tourmaline and it's fairly obvious why. But what I find really cool about that stone above is it reflects the actual change from summer to fall. Just like tree leaves in early October, some leaves are still green while others are turning. 

Of course, not all tourmaline is multi-coloured. In fact, one of the most prized tourmalines are "paraiba" tourmalines, like the one is this incredible ring my daughter, owner of her #ForEVAgems shop at Ruby Lane, designed and had custom-made for herself some years back: 

Custom-designed Paraiba Tourmaline & Diamond Cocktail ring from Forevagems

Tourmalines aren't all that rare, but the cost of a Paraiba tourmaline depends on the carat weight of the stone and its colour. The rarest colour of tourmalines, hence pricier, are the blues and reds. So keep an eye out for those. 

Now, let's look at October's other birthstone: OPAL. I absolutely adore opals and have found they are a popular stone with many buyers, regardless of the time of year. Like those multi-coloured tourmalines above, the delightful thing about opals is the range of colours ie. "fire" that really good opals display. Look at the glorious "autumn" colours in this "fire opal" cabochon and diamond cocktail ring sold recently by Forevagems:

If earrings are your favorite kind of jewelry, here's a pair I really like that is being sold by justopal at ETSY:

These are natural Australian opal doublets but look at the colours emitted: reds, blues, oranges, greens. So very pretty. Speaking of opal "doublets",  "triplets" etc. you might wonder what is the difference between them and a solid opal. Well, doublets and triplets are slivers of opal that are mounted onto a black backing. Solid opals are "all" opal, like the pendant I have for sale HERE:

Solid Opal with diamond pendant on 14k Italian box chain available from Forevagems

If you'd like to know more about opals, doublets, triplets etc., check out this link at OPALS DOWN UNDER.  meaning, Australia, which is, of course, where some of the world's best opals are found!

There's certainly no shortage of creative artisans on #ETSY who can make you a ring, earrings, bracelet, pendant or whatever you desire using opals or tourmalines. But if you're not looking for handmade items, which are generally a little more affordable, and you want vintage or antique jewelry, I really suggest you check out Ruby Lane. If money is no object, Arnold Jewelers in Florida has this incredible natural diamond and freeform opal pendant below just for you! Happy Birthday!