Opals for October

Opals and Tourmalines are the birthstones for October. Although I think that Ovals are very beautiful - I was always told as a child that Opals are bad luck to wear if they are not your birthstone. Since my birthday is not in October - I do not own this stone.

There is more than one root claiming fame to the name of Opals. The first is from the Latin word "opalus" meaning "precious stone". The second is from the Greek word "Opallos" meaning" to see a change of color".

Opals are very colorful stones ranging from white to black with flashy bits of sparkle and light when moved around. They come in many colors and can be quite valuable. The majority of Opals are from Australia.

There has been various claims to the mystical powers possessed by the Opal from the Roman to the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Powers have even been claimed special if various parts of the world such as the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
Tourmaline does not have as fascinating of a mystical history of the Opal as it was discovered much later.