Birthstone Articles
Legendary October Birthstones: Tourmaline and Opal Myths
October's Birthstone: Opal, The Fiery Gemstone
Tourmaline, the Rainbow Gemstone
Rubies are red, emeralds are green. What the heck color is tourmaline?
The tourmaline gemstone comes in many colors, often in the same stone. Its very name means mixed stone: "tura mali" from the Singhalese phrase "stone mixed with vibrant colors." Red, pink, peach, orange, yellow, brown, green, blue, purple, even black -- tourmaline is one of the most versatile gemstones, appearing in a variety of shades. Bi-color and tri-color stones are especially prized for jewelry. One of the more popular variations is the "watermelon tourmaline," with pink, green, and white color bands appearing naturally in the same stone.
Octobers Birthstone: Spooky Tales of Pink Tourmaline
There are two October birthstones: opals and pink tourmaline. But while opals are more famous and certainly have their charm, pink tourmaline’s spooky qualities make it the perfect birthstone for the month in which we revel in ghost stories and the supernatural.
You see, pink tourmaline shares a unique quality with all tourmaline gemstones—it’s pyroelectric and piezoelectric. That means that when heated or put under pressure, tourmaline gemstones take on an electric charge and can actually pull things towards them. If you vigorously rub and warm up your pink tourmaline birthstone jewelry, it can “magically” attract nearby bits of paper and dust. It might even make the hairs on your arm stand on end!
