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Birthstone for October.

BIRTHSTONE FOR OCTOBER​

Birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian calendar  and every month of the year has at least one different gemstone associated with it and includes both precious and semi-precious stones.


THE HISTORY OF BIRTHSTONES

Gemstones have been worn for thousands of years as items of jewellery and beauty. Carried as wealth, as they are normally small, and easily transported or concealed. They have always been highly valued by nobility as a display of power and wealth and were given as high ranking gifts to seek favour or safety.

In respect to birthstones the history is much more recent with Scholars tracing the origins of wearing a stone related to the month of birth back to the Polish in the18th century. But it was not until 1912 that the modern list of birthstones was published by the National Association of Jewelers in the USA. This was updated in October of 2002, with the addition of tanzanite as a birthstone for December and shown below.

January- Garnet
February- Amethyst
March- Aquamarine
April- Diamond
May- Emerald
June- Moonstone
July- Ruby
August- Peridot
September- Sapphire
October- ???
November- Topaz or Citrine
December- Turquoise or Tanzanite


THE FOLKLORE OF BIRTHSTONES

For over 3000 years gemstones have had their place in folklore. They were associated with many different effects on and protections for the wearer, promoting virtues and helping to avert misfortune. For many centuries people held strong beliefs in the powers of gemstones to heal, protect and ward of evil.


THE POETRY OF BIRTHSTONES
Each month has a poem written for the stone of that month and were brought together in 1870 when Tiffany & Co published a pamphlet of all the 12 poems. 

THE BIRTHSTONE FOR OCTOBER

Opal is the Birthstone for October. Its origins coming from three different languages, the Latin opalus meaning 'seeing jewel', the Sanskrit upala meaning 'precious stone' and the Greek Opallios meaning 'to see a change in colour'.


The beautiful colours displayed in precious opals come from tiny pockets of water that fill the gaps within the stone, and change with the play of light as the opal is moved.

Opals background colour ranges from white through to black with the plays of colour emanating from the stone showing as orange, green, yellow, blue and red. There is one translucent form of opal called a fire Opal which, by the suggestion in its name comes in colours of red, orange and yellow.


THE HISTORY AND FOLKLORE OF OPAL
Evidence from Archaeology suggests that the history of opals can be traced back around 10,000 years to North America, where there is evidence that black opals were mined in Virgin Valley in the isolated northwest corner of Nevada. 

The Aztecs were known to be mining opal around 30 AD in Central and South America and have been found in Kenyan artefacts that are 6000 years old. The Greek king of the gods Zeus, on defeating the Titans, was said to be so happy that he cried tears of joy that upon hitting the ground turned into opals.

Arabs had beliefs along the same lines in that they also believed that opals fell from the heavens in lightning which gave them their fiery colours.
The aborigines of Australia believed that their creator, while traveling the rainbow road dislodged stones that took on the colours of the rainbow and became opals.

The Romans believed that the opal took on the beauty of all precious stones and believed that they bestowed good luck and good fortune upon the wearer.Throughout the ages opal was believed protect and heal the eyes. 

Folklore accredited the gem with clarifying feelings, resolving conflicts of emotion, give foresight and protect against illness.


THE POEM FOR OCTOBER

"October's child is born for woe,
And life's vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest."
THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON OPALS

GEMSTONE

OPAL

Colour

Colourless,

 Milky white, grey, red, blue, Brown, green,

nearly black.

Hardness

5.5-6.5

Refractive Index

1.43-1.46

Transparency

Translucent to sub translucent

Relative Density

1.8-2.3

Crystal Group

amorphous

Cleavage

None

Found in –Location.

Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, USA, Zimbabwe.




OPALS IN JEWELLERY
For many years Opals have been valued in jewellery for their beauty and wide ranging colours. Today opals are still widely used in beautiful jewellery solitaire pieces or grouped together in multi stone designs. 

Whichever piece you chose to wear there is always a colour to enhance your style and compliment your beauty 
 

PENDANTS  RINGS NECKLACES EARRINGS


Also have a look at the birthstones for-

January  February March April May June
July August September  October November December



BIRTHSTONE FOR OCTOBER
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