Remember that the wishes of the gift recipient override all other considerations regarding the correctness of a birthstone gift !

Modern Birthstone
Pink Tourmaline is the modern birthstone for October and the gemstone for the 8th wedding anniversary. The name Tourmaline comes from a Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) word turamali - loosly translated as "mixed" and used to describe assortments of multicolored gemstone pebbles found in local regions where sand and sediment were once deposited by running water. Tourmaline's wide range of colors have intrigued people for centuries. In ancient Egypt, legend had it that tourmaline acquired it's many colors by travelling along a rainbow in a journey from the earth to the sun. Other civilizations thought that thought wearing tourmaline could help one become more artistic and aesthetically inclined. Tourmaline is said to balance male and female energies, balance the conscious and subconscious mind and balance the left and right brain, so it should come as no surprise that tourmaline is a perfect gemstone for those born under the sign of Libra, the scales! Pink tourmaline also is a gemstone symbolic of the planet, Venus, which rules Libra and Taurus. Other colors of tourmaline are sometimes said to be linked to the planet Saturn. Due to the electrical properties inherent in this mineral, tourmaline could also be an appropriate gemstone for the planet Uranus (the planet of electricity) and those born under the Uranus-ruled sign of Aquarius.

Numerologists believe that tourmaline vibrates to the numbers 6 and 7 and, to a lesser extent, the number 2. The different colors of tourmaline correspond to the different chakras- pink tourmaline acts on the Heart (fourth) Chakra.

October Birthstone: Opal

Opal, the birthstone for October, is one of nature's most prized gems and is the recommended jewelry gift for couples celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary. It was mined by eastern Europeans, the Aztecs and the ancient tribes of Central Africa. Opals have been featured in the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor and the crown jewels of France. They were mentioned in the plays of Shakespeare and the novels of Sir Walter Scott. Napoleon gave an opal to Josephine. Queen Victoria gave them out as wedding gifts. One of the reasons this gem has been so revered is because of its supposed mystical powers: the ability to grant vigor, aid the heart and kidneys and protect against fainting and infection. Worshipped by the Romans as a symbol of hope, fidelity, purity and good luck, opal is sometimes called the "queen of gems" because the stone can flash patterns of color representing every hue of the rainbow.

Brilliance of color and color pattern are critical in determining the value of opal. The most common colors  are green, blue, yellow and red. This gem can match with just about anything because of the variety of colors it produces. The black opal is the rarest and most valuable of the gem stone collection. If you find a black opal of high quality, they can sell for more than diamonds per carat. Stone size also helps determine price, since the gem is very rare in larger sizes. Prices can vary from a few dollars per carat for common white opal to more than $1,000 per carat for fine black opal. Most stones are not faceted and usually cut into rounded cabochons to enhance color play. Perfect natural opals are extremely rare and expensive. Many are treated to enhance their appearance. With a hardness of approximately 5.5 on the Mohs scale, opal is relatively fragile, it contains up to 30% water and care should be taken not to scratch, chip or crack it. To clean opal, use a soft cloth moistened with olive oil. Do not use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Also, avoid heat and dry conditions that could dehydrate and crack the stone. Avoid impacts. Most of the world's Opal deposits are found in Southern Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and Nevada.  A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness and confidence. And the powerful energy radiating from this fiery gemstone will surely illuminate any occasion! White opals look fantastic with a yellow gold setting. Rings accompanied by diamonds are great for engagement rings. Also is a great gem to use in children’s jewelry.

What do you think, do you like Opal ?

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