October is one of the rare months blessed with two birthstones — opal and tourmaline — both celebrated for their kaleidoscopic colours and air of mystery. Their beauty has inspired poets, emperors, and jewellers for centuries, but also surrounded them with myth and superstition. Today, these gems remain symbols of individuality and authenticity — qualities that echo the spirit of those who wear them.
Ancient Origins — Fire Captured in Stone
Long before modern gemmology, civilisations marvelled at opal’s shifting play of colour. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, writing in AD 77, praised opal for uniting “the fire of ruby, the purple of amethyst, and the sea-green of emerald, all shining together in incredible union.” To the Romans, it symbolised purity and hope — a precious embodiment of all the world’s hues in one jewel. Roman generals carried opals as talismans for victory, believing the gem bestowed foresight and luck.
Meanwhile, tourmaline’s journey began further east. Traded along routes from Sri Lanka and India, early specimens were often mistaken for emeralds or rubies. Dutch merchants coined the name turmali, meaning “mixed colour,” when they noticed the gem’s ability to attract ash and dust after being heated — a property now known as pyroelectricity. From Asia to Africa, tourmaline was revered as a gemstone of healing energy and protection.
In Africa, where modern gemmology later identified spectacular varieties — from vivid green Namibian tourmaline to the rare Paraíba-like blues of Mozambique — both gems became tied to the continent’s rich mineral heritage, linking ancient legend with contemporary discovery.
Medieval Magic and Misunderstanding
During the Middle Ages, opal’s shifting light was seen as a manifestation of divine grace. Scholars of the time believed it could grant invisibility, strengthen eyesight, and protect its wearer from harm. Because it reflected every colour, it was thought to contain the virtues of all other gemstones — an almost alchemical perfection.
Yet as Europe’s fascination with mysticism deepened, opal’s enchantment darkened. By the seventeenth century, its brilliance became associated with witchcraft and misfortune. The myth that opal brought bad luck truly took hold in the nineteenth century, when Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein depicted an opal that lost its fire after being touched by holy water — leading to its owner’s death. The story captured the Victorian imagination, and sales of opal jewellery plummeted.
This superstition lingered for decades, illustrating how easily legend can eclipse truth. In reality, opals are simply delicate gems that require care — their hydrous structure can lose moisture if exposed to extreme dryness or heat, causing cracks that fuelled tales of “fading fortune.”
Royal Patrons and the Victorian Revival
Opal’s reputation was rescued by none other than Queen Victoria herself. An enthusiastic lover of gems, she received Australian opals from the newly discovered mines at Lightning Ridge and wore them proudly. Far from fearing bad luck, she gifted opal jewellery to her daughters and ladies-in-waiting, restoring the gem’s popularity across the Empire. Victorian opal rings, brooches, and pendants became emblems of romance and devotion — their fiery colours symbolising passion made visible.
At the same time, another monarch on the opposite side of the world was captivated by colour. Empress Cixi of China collected vast quantities of pink and green tourmaline, believing the gems calmed the heart and balanced the spirit. So devoted was she that when she died in 1908, a large pink tourmaline carved as a lotus flower was placed beside her head in the imperial tomb.
These royal associations firmly established both gems as symbols of refinement and emotional depth. From London’s drawing rooms to Beijing’s Forbidden City, opal and tourmaline embodied grace, mystery, and power.
Symbolism and Spiritual Resonance
Beyond myth and monarchy, each gemstone carries profound symbolic meaning.
Opal — with its shifting rainbow — represents creativity, truth, and transformation. Its changing colours are said to mirror the inner life of its wearer, reflecting emotion and imagination. Artists and writers have long claimed opal sparks inspiration, a “fire within” that awakens passion and expression.
Tourmaline, meanwhile, symbolises balance, protection, and empathy. Because it appears in nearly every colour — from verdant greens to watermelon pinks — it is associated with harmony between body and soul. In crystal lore, it is believed to absorb negativity and promote self-confidence. Whether or not one believes in metaphysical energy, the scientific reality of tourmaline’s electric charge makes its reputation as a “vibrant” gemstone wonderfully apt.
For modern collectors and jewellery lovers, these meanings translate into individuality. No two opals or tourmalines are identical. Each gem’s pattern, hue, and fire are unique — a natural expression of personal identity.
Science Restores the Story
Today, gemmology has reclaimed these gems from the realm of superstition. Spectroscopic analysis and microscopic study reveal why opals shimmer: their internal silica spheres diffract light like a natural prism. Tourmaline’s complex borosilicate structure produces a dazzling array of colours unmatched by any other gemstone family.
Understanding this science doesn’t strip the magic away — it deepens appreciation. When you view an opal’s play of colour or a bi-coloured tourmaline’s vivid transition, you are witnessing the result of geological artistry that took millions of years beneath the earth’s surface. Fact, in this case, is far more enchanting than fiction.
A Modern Appreciation
In contemporary jewellery, designers are rediscovering opal and tourmaline’s expressive versatility. From minimalist pendants to opulent cocktail rings, both gemstones harmonise beautifully with yellow or rose gold, echoing the warmth of Cape Town’s golden light. Their colourful diversity appeals to clients seeking jewels with emotional and personal significance rather than uniform perfection.
At Prins & Prins Diamonds, these gems are celebrated as earthly masterpieces — natural treasures shaped by time, artistry, and story. Each opal or tourmaline is carefully examined by our gemmologists to ensure integrity, origin, and brilliance.
Those captivated by October’s birthstones are invited to explore our curated collection of Gemstone Jewellery — where science meets storytelling and every jewel reveals a chapter of the earth’s rich heritage.
Conclusion — Dispelling the Shadows, Revealing the Light
The legends surrounding opal and tourmaline remind us that beauty often walks hand-in-hand with mystery. Yet knowledge dispels fear: these gems are not fickle charms but radiant symbols of nature’s artistry. From Pliny’s ancient praise to Queen Victoria’s opulent revival, their journey through history proves that truth endures where superstition fades.
October’s birthstones invite us to look closer — to see not just colour, but character; not just reflection, but revelation. In their shifting light lies a lesson as timeless as the jewels themselves: what is most beautiful is often the most misunderstood.
