Introduction
The traditional October birthstone for our October babies is none other than Opal. It is a unique gem with a diverse range of colors and optical effects. Similarly to September, the month of October is named from the Latin word “octo” which means “eight”. It has been named so because of its original place in the 10-month early Roman calendar. The Anglo-Saxons called the month of October as Winterfylleth, which means “winter full moon” because it was believed by them that winter began during October’s full moon.
One of the famous and interesting Roman October holidays was Mundus Patet. On this day, it was believed that the realms of the living and the dead were open to each other. In today's times, similar holidays like Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos are celebrated in October. Symbolically, October represents reaping what you have sown, fulfillment, and the life cycle. Let us find out if the October birthstone’s symbolisms match the month of October or not. We will also go over the history of opal, its properties, meanings, and healing benefits.
Cultural & Historical Significance of October Birthstone
If you are thinking about what is the official October birthstone, then you would be happy to know that there are two semi-precious gemstones designated as October birthstones: tourmaline and opal. The first birthstone list, which was created in the 1st to 5th century AD, and inspired by Biblical gemstone lists, had beryl and aquamarine as October’s birthstone. The first standardized list came from the Jewelers of America (who were known as the National Association of Jewelers at that time) in 1912, where opal was designated as the primary birthstone of October, and tourmaline was mentioned as its alternative. In the most recent 2016 American list, equal priority has been given to both opal and pink tourmaline as the October birthstone.
Opal’s Mythical Origins & Ancient Folklore
Ancient Greeks believed that Opals were formed from the sky god Zeus’s tears of joy which he shed once he defeated the Titans. Opal was considered the queen of gems by ancient Romans. One of the Roman scholars, Pliny the Elder, wrote in his memoirs that opal consisted of all the good qualities of other valuable gemstones such as ruby, emerald, and amethyst.
Aboriginal (which is a fancy term for indigenous Australians) opal lore dates back centuries. One myth about opals is of the Rainbow Serpent. Rainbow Serpent was a powerful being who flew between water holes, and when its iridescent scales fell onto the earth, the creation of opals happened. Another interesting Australian opal origin myth said that an ancestral Creator spirit, went to the earth by traveling by a rainbow, and opals emerged where the spirit’s feet touched the ground.
Opal: A Geological Marvel
Opal is one of the very few gemstones that is formed in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. If you are thinking that opal is a mineral, then let us correct you: it's not, rather, it’s a mineraloid. The composition of opal is hydrated (wet) amorphous silica and it ranks between 5.0 and 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
The silica deposits in which opal is formed are produced when rain and silicon dioxide seep deep into the ground. Eventually, the mixture picks up evaporated silica from the sandstone along the way and it settles into small crevices that eventually end up drying. What is left behind is nothing but silica deposit that builds over time (here, we are talking millions of years) and eventually form big opal concretions and boulders. When miners find these deposits, they cut the host rock to procure rough opal stones. These stones are then faceted into gemstones.
Some opals are translucent, others are speckled with different colors and hues, and many are found in colors like light pink or light blue with an iridescent shine. If you talk about the categories of opals found in the market, then there are two types of opals: precious opals and common opals. Precious opals display a beautiful striking optical effect like a rainbow, known as play-of-colors. Common opals, on the other hand, do not show this feature, and that is the primary distinction between precious opals and common opals.
Healing Properties of October Birthstone
Holistic healers tend to use opals to connect with cosmic consciousness and intensifying emotions. It is also said that wearing opal jewelry enhances the intelligence and creativity of the wearer, heightening his connection with the self. Some people even say that wearing opal jewelry strengthens memory and recalling power.
When it comes to healing, you can use opal jewelry for fast recovery from infections and fevers, while simultaneously purifying the kidneys and the liver. Opal is also considered to be an excellent stone for women. All women out there would be pleased to know that opal jewelry is said to alleviate menstrual cramps and also ease childbirth pain. All these healing properties of opal are based on holistic health theories that have stood the test of time, and in today’s times, more and more people are gravitating to this wonderful stone.
Custom October Birthstone Jewelry for Jewelry Retailers
If you are a jewelry retailer with a traditional brick-and-mortar store or perhaps a Shopify store where you sell your jewelry online, we know that you are looking to buy custom October birthstone jewelry. You might need custom birthstone jewelry at wholesale rates for altogether different reasons; maybe you want to stock both traditional birthstone jewelry as well as modern birthstone jewelry, or maybe you want to sell your customers alternative birthstones that can be used in place of the main traditional birthstone (because that is the target audience you have decided to cater). Whatever your reasons may be, if you need custom October birthstone jewelry, then you need to head straight to Rananjay Exports – India’s most renowned wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturer and supplier. They deal in a wide variety of custom jewelry and they will fulfill your every need when it comes to jewelry.
When you order custom jewelry from Rananjay Exports, such as custom birthstone jewelry, you get to choose everything about the jewelry – from the jewelry’s design and gemstones used in it to the base metal, vermeil, and coating of the jewelry. Also, since Rananjay Exports deals in numerous designs and works in a wide variety of different natural gemstones (250+ gemstones, to be specific), you can get your desired wholesale gemstone jewelry very easily.
Conclusion
Opal is a gemstone loved for its range of colors and unique appearance. Now that you have learned everything about the October birthstone, opal, you must be thinking of what to do next. Well, it's up to you, you can either visit our other blogs, and gain valuable insights from them, or you can browse the official website of Rananjay Exports – India’s renowned wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturer – and order jewelry from them. They deal in a wide variety of wholesale gemstone jewelry as well as 925 sterling silver jewelry. Not only will you get opal jewelry on their website, such as opal rings, opal earrings, opal pendants, opal necklaces, and opal bracelets, but you will be able to select from gemstone jewelry in about 250+ different gemstones. So, rather than waiting, visit Rananjay Exports, and order the jewelry your customers will cherish for years to come.
