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October's Birthstone
“Now the melancholy God protect thee, and the tailor make thy garments of changeable taffeta, for thy mind is opal.”
~ Twelfth Night, or What You Will, William Shakespeare, 1601-2
October's birthstone, the opal, with its ever-changing colors, is among the most captivating gems in the world. Its name comes from the Sanskrit upala, meaning “precious stone,” later transformed into the Greek Opallios, or “to see a change of color.” Known as the “Eye Stone,” it has long been cherished for its brilliance, playful shifts, and dazzling flashes that make it seem almost alive.
Opal became October’s birthstone perhaps because its rainbow hues mirror the season's changes - warm light fading into autumn’s cooler chill, a balance of harvest and frost. Unlike single-hued gems, opal’s shifting fire symbolizes mystery, resilience, and creativity.
The stone’s reputation, however, took a sharp turn in 1829 with the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s Anne of Geierstein. In the story, the enchanting Lady Hermione wears a magnificent opal in her hair, a jewel that changes color with her moods—sparkling when she is happy, flashing red when she is angry. But when a few drops of holy water fall on the stone, its brilliance fades to ash. The opal’s sudden lifelessness spreads fear and superstition, and Lady Hermione, branded a sorceress, collapses and dies. The tale so captivated readers that it stigmatized the gem for decades; within a year, the opal market collapsed and prices fell by half!
Today, opals are celebrated and prized once again, often given for 14th anniversaries and admired as symbols of hope, purity, and mystical play. Their kaleidoscopic beauty - shines especially in the rarer harlequin opal, whose fiery mosaic of triangle and rectangular shaped color flashes is unique amongst gems.
This tartan reflects that same magic, echoing the opal’s shimmering palette. May your October similarly sparkle with joy and light. 💙 ❤️ 💛 🎂 💎💍
Gemstones have played various roles in the myths and legends of human cultures throughout history. Some tell a story or are believed to have special powers, but all of them share a common beauty and appear in every colour of the rainbow.
In ancient times, the opal was known as the Queen of Gems because it encompassed the colors of all other gems.
Many considered opal to be beneficial to the eye and wore it to cure eye diseases. Some even believed it could render the carrier invisible. Supposedly, carrying an opal wrapped in a fresh bay leaf would keep others from seeing you. This superstition earned opal the popular designation of patronus furum, Latin for “patron of thieves.”
Australia’s Lightning Ridge is known for its rare and stunning black Opals. The ideal black opal is one that displays broad patterns covering the surface, with all the colors of the rainbow, including red.
The name opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit upala, meaning “precious stone,” and later the Greek derivative “Opallios,” meaning “to see a change of color.”
In modern times, however, opals obtained a reputation for a stone of bad luck. Interestingly, the origin of this unfortunate reputation and myth is attributed to Sir Walter Scott! His bestselling novel, Anne of Geuerstein, written in 1829, tells the story of Lady Hermione, who is falsely accused of being a demoness, and dies shortly after a drop of holy water accidentally falls on her opal and destroys its color.
The reading public carelessly took this to mean that the popular and revered author was warning of the bad luck an opal can bring. Within months of the novel being published, the opal market crashed and prices plummeted down 50%. Although undeservedly, Sir Walter Scott is often credited with destroying the European opal market for almost 50 years.
In 1912, tourmaline was added as an alternative birthstone to opal as October's birthstone.
For thirteen other mysterious and possibly cursed gemstones, click the black opal!