Welcome, stone lovers. Let's dive into the brightly colored world of opal and tourmaline - the stones of people born in October. Discover the rainbow play of colors of opal, join us in the secrets of tourmaline and uncover the stories tied to these amazing minerals. The dramatic play of colors of opal has inspired writers who compare it to fireworks, galaxies and volcanoes. Opal is a traditional stone for the 14th wedding anniversary, or an alternative to the 18th wedding anniversary, and tourmaline is a traditional gift for the 8th wedding anniversary. If you are choosing jewelry for your wedding anniversary, we will be happy to advise you.

Opal is valued for its beauty, changing radiant colors, which are manifested in rainbow reflections in various color spectra. The Roman philosopher and warrior, scientist and writer Gaius Plinius Secundus, also Plinius Maior, Pliny the Elder (23 Novum Comum – 24 August 79 Stabiae), wrote about opals that the opal contains the delicate fire of ruby, the rich purple of amethyst and the sea green of emerald, all of which shine together in indescribable harmony.

Opal – meaning and history

The name "opal" is derived from the Latin word opalus , which has its origin in the Sanskrit word upala , and means "gem" or "precious stone". From the Greek opallios, the name came into Latin and modern languages. It has been considered a precious gemstone since ancient times.

Tourmaline - Meaning and History

Tourmaline – comes from the Sinhalese word "turmali" , which means "mixture of precious stones" or "stones of different colors". This word was used by the inhabitants of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) to refer to variously colored gemstones, because tourmaline occurs in many colors and was often confused with other stones. The name was officially adopted in Europe in the 18th century, when tourmalines were brought to the European market from Sri Lanka.

Symbolism and properties of opal

Creativity and inspiration
Opal is often associated with promoting creativity and developing inspiration. It brings an inner spark to its wearers and encourages creative thinking.

Emotional balance
Opal is traditionally considered a symbol of emotional healing and harmonization. It helps calm the mind and heart, especially when dealing with emotional issues.

Love and passion
Opal is associated with love and passion. It is worn as a talisman to attract romantic energy and strengthen relationships.

Protection and intuition
Opal is believed to have protective properties, especially on a personal and spiritual level. It is said to support intuition and psychic perception.

Symbolism and properties of tourmaline

Protection
Tourmaline, especially black tourmaline – scoryl, is known for its ability to reflect negative energy and provide protection against both emotional and physical negative influences.

Ground
Tourmaline helps maintain a connection to the Earth and promotes a sense of stability and balance. This is especially appreciated by individuals who struggle to stay focused and stable or resist stress.

Balance and harmony
Tourmaline promotes the harmonization of energy centers – chakras , which can lead to better physical and emotional health.

Self-confidence and creativity
It is tourmaline that is associated with increased self-confidence, courage, and at the same time promotes creativity. It also helps improve communication and understanding between people.

Color symbolism

White is a symbol of purity, unity and innocence, a symbol of energy, it encourages self-knowledge, thought processes and perception of one's own consciousness. In Feng Shui, white represents the energy of metal , intelligence, creativity and strength. It is the energy of thoughts, heavy, often destructive, but necessary for our lives.

Black in Feng Shui represents the energy of water . It is suitable for any space that is used for rest, meditation, relaxation or prayer. The energy of water is traditionally associated with the entrance or the north part of a room, apartment or house. It is associated with the area of career and life path. If you want to keep your life moving forward towards your goals, use the energy of the water element.
Water is the energy of silence, strength, peace and purification. It is the embodiment of unrealized possibilities and abilities. It is pliable and very strong. The water element brings the power of regeneration and rebirth, it is the energy of the circle of life.
The flow of water energy is symbolized by blue and black. It is suitable for rooms used for relaxation, meditation or prayer and is used to support the achievement of set goals. The flow of water is lively and nourishing and is suitable for promoting health and well-being, both at home and in the office.

Green is the color of growth, the embodiment of the life force of birth, development and constant renewal of nature. Green is suitable for supporting new relationships, education, business activities and is a symbol of life in all its manifestations. It supports growth and development, the implementation of plans and increasing efforts for a new life in the family. Green is a ray of productivity, progress, prosperity and material success. They are used for new beginnings , growth and strength. They are suitable talismans for supporting new life, fertility and overall renewal, and for increasing efforts aimed at career advancement. Green in Feng Shui represents the energy of wood , which is traditionally associated with the eastern or southeastern part of a room , apartment or house. It represents family, health, prosperity and abundance. The energy of wood is important for personal well-being, it helps one's own efforts aimed at improving family relationships and strengthening family ties. It is important for growth, new beginnings and health, increases vitality and maintains physical development.
Wood energy is symbolized by the colors green and brown , and the stones are used for dining rooms, children's rooms, or where a new project is being created. Like the water element, wood energy is vibrant and nourishing, suitable for promoting health and well-being, both at home and in the office.

Red embodies passion, energy, fire power, courage and love. It is the color of passion, energy and life. It is the color of motivation, fire and blood. It is very intense emotionally and affects by increasing blood pressure and accelerating metabolism. Red = a call to action, it is the color of a battle cry and a warning sign. It excites, arouses enthusiasm, gives energy. Red is the color of the basic chakra – Muladhara.
Red intensifies, uplifts, absorbs. It suppresses apathy, gives things momentum, is action, is drive, is suitable in all situations that require passion, activity and involvement. The red ray brings self-confidence built on fearlessness and suppresses hesitation and self-doubt.
Red in Feng Shui symbolizes the energy of fire , the energy of enthusiasm, heat, passion, warmth, light and activity. In nature, it symbolizes the male element Yang, light and creative power, personifies reason and penetration. The energy of fire is traditionally associated with the southern part of a room , apartment or house and provides the dwelling with reputation and fame and helps to strengthen our personal position in society and within the family.
The energy of fire is vibrant and strong. It brings the energy of the sun and fire into life, supporting positive thinking and a zest for life.

Pink in Feng Shui represents the soft energy of fire, created by a combination of red and white.

Blue is used to increase efforts to get rid of destructive behavior patterns, it is suitable for reducing anxiety, calming grief, improving mood and detaching from the negative past. Light blue resembles the color of shallow waters in which the sky is reflected, it helps to relax, think and contemplate life. It is suitable for increasing patience, and for the ability to forgive and ask for forgiveness, for calm actions, and for reconciliation. It supports trust, loyalty, overcoming uncertainty, maintaining stability, devotion and respect. Blue in Feng Shui represents the energy of water, the energy of silence, strength, peace and purification.

Opals shrouded in myths and legends

Opal is a stone that has been surrounded by many myths and legends since ancient times. Its mysterious play of colors and brilliance have inspired various cultures to create stories, superstitions and legends.

Ancient Rome
The Romans considered opal a symbol of hope and purity. It was one of the most valuable stones because they believed it contained all the colors of other gemstones.

Medieval Europe
In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone of good luck and protection against illness in Europe. It was believed that the wearer of opal gained the ability to predict the future. Therefore, it was often used by fortune tellers and magicians.

Arabian legends
According to Arab legends, opal fell from the sky in the form of lightning and contained their light, which explains its rainbow play of colors.

Australian Aboriginal myths
Australia, which is today the world's main source of opals. Therefore, the legends associated with it must have originated in Australia. One of the indigenous legends tells that opal was created when the Creator descended to Earth on a rainbow. The place where he touched the ground began to shine with all the colors of the rainbow, and from that place opal was born.

Spanish legend
In the 19th century, opal became a symbol of bad luck due to a Spanish legend about a queen who wore an opal ring. After her death, it was believed that opals would bring bad luck to anyone who wore them. This myth persisted until the end of the 19th century, when the legend was forgotten.

These stories and legends contributed to opal being considered a stone with mystical powers, with the power to protect but also to bring about fateful changes.

Tourmalines shrouded in myths and legends

Tourmaline, as one of the most colorful gemstones, is also surrounded by many myths and legends that reflect its diversity and magical properties.

Ancient legends
Egyptian legends claim that tourmaline acquired its colors as it traveled from the Earth's core to the surface, passing through a rainbow. This is why it is often called the "rainbow stone." Traditionally, it is considered a stone that brings strength, protection, and spiritual harmony to its wearer.

Indian legends
In India, tourmaline was considered a stone that had the ability to enhance spiritual awareness and inner peace. It was used for meditation and cleansing from negative energies. Indian legends say that tourmaline could change color according to a person's mood, which symbolized its connection to the human soul.

Chinese mysticism
In Chinese tradition, pink tourmaline was often associated with love, feminine beauty, and gentleness. It was worn by empresses and noblewomen as a talisman to bring love and happiness in marriage. It was also used to treat heart disease and as a protector against evil forces.

African legends
In some African tribes, tourmaline was considered a protective stone, protecting against evil spirits and curses. Tourmaline was also used as an amulet for protection in battle and to enhance courage.

Alchemy and mysticism
In medieval Europe, alchemists believed that tourmaline was a magical stone that helped transmute the elemental elements, making it useful in the search for the “philosopher’s stone.” Alchemists also believed that tourmaline had the ability to attract energy and heal both body and soul.

Magical properties
Many cultures attributed the ability to protect the wearer from negative energy to tourmaline, due to the fact that it acquires an electrical charge when cooled or heated. People believed that it had the ability to attract or repel energy, making it a powerful protective stone and is still used today.

These myths and legends have given tourmaline an aura of mystery and spiritual power, making it one of the most revered and mystical gemstones in the world.

Where are opals found?

The most important sites are:

Each deposit produces opals with characteristic properties, and therefore their value is often determined by the location where they were mined. Opals occur in various colors, with or without inclusions: white opal - dendritic, pink, yellow, red, orange,green , brown, black and blue.

The most famous opal in the world is the FLAME QUEEN , mined in 1918 in Australia.

Types of tourmalines

Black tourmaline – scoryl – protection from negative energy.
Green tourmaline – verdelite – a traditional talisman of wealth, abundance, prosperity and business success.
Pink to red tourmaline - rubellite - supports energy, courage, zest for life and a talisman of love, friendship, wisdom and compassion.
Blue tourmaline – indigolite – supports communication, tolerance and peace.
Watermelon Tourmaline – love, tenderness, friendship and patience.

Where are tourmalines found?

Tourmalines are found in many places around the world, with some areas known for producing specific colors and types of tourmalines.

STONES CLEANING

Opal contains water and is sensitive to drying out, changes in humidity, temperature and chemicals.
Opal can be cleaned with mild soap and water, and a soft cloth. Do not use abrasives or chemicals that could damage the opal. Do not use a hard brush or other material that could scratch the opal, and ultrasonic cleaners are completely unsuitable.

Ideally, store opals in a soft cloth, it can be moistened, you can close it together with the opal in a box. Opals are relatively soft (5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale), they should be stored separately from other stones.

If you have opals in the form of jewelry, they should not come into contact with perfume, body cream, or chemicals, e.g. during housework, so put the jewelry away when doing physical work, sports, or swimming.

The best way to clean tourmaline is with mild soap and water and a soft cloth. Like opal, tourmaline does not tolerate chemicals, bleach, acids, or alcohol-based cleaners. Although tourmalines are relatively hard (7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale), caution should be exercised when cleaning with ultrasound. Ultrasound can damage any cracks and inclusions, so it is best not to use this method.
You can find all cleaning and recharging methods in our article here.

For whom, what stone to buy and many reasons why this one and not another can be found in our guides: Precious stones by birth month and Stones by zodiac sign . Are you choosing jewelry for your wedding anniversary? We will be happy to help you with that too.

We have jewelry from our suppliers verified for the authenticity of the stones by the Czech Gemological Laboratory Ltd., you can find the certificates here.

Are you interested in birthstones? Learn more here.

We wrote the article for you on October 1, 2024.

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