October has two birthstones, and they could not be more different.
Opal is the traditional October birthstone, while tourmaline is the newer choice. Both are beautiful, but they do not wear the same way. If you're choosing an October birthstone piece, the decision becomes much easier once you know how each stone behaves.
I design custom birthstone jewellery at my studio in Ladner Village, and I work with clients from Coquitlam and across the Lower Mainland. When someone comes in looking for an October birthday piece, I start with the two stones, then think about how and where the jewellery will actually be worn.
Here is how I approach an opal or tourmaline design.
Why October Has Two Birthstones
People born in October have a choice between opal and tourmaline, two gemstones with completely different personalities.
Opal is known for its shifting play-of-colour, with flashes that can move between green, blue, pink, orange and other hues as the stone catches the light. Tourmaline is known for its remarkable range of colours, from pink and red to green, blue and violet. Some tourmaline crystals can even show more than one colour in the same stone.
That variety is one of the best things about designing October birthstone jewellery. There isn't one look that defines an October piece. The stone can be soft and colourful, bold and saturated, classic or completely unexpected.
The more important question is how you plan to wear it.
Opal: The Traditional October Stone
Opal is unlike almost any other gemstone. Its famous play-of-colour comes from the way light interacts with tiny silica structures within the stone, creating flashes of colour that appear to move as the opal changes position.
It is also a softer gemstone. Opal typically ranges from 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and its toughness can range from poor to fair. That doesn't mean opal can't be worn as jewellery—it simply means it needs more consideration when choosing the design and where the piece will be worn.
Opal needs a gentle home.
A ring worn every day is exposed to knocks, scratches and contact with other objects, so opal requires more care in that setting. A pendant or pair of earrings can be a better choice because the stone is less exposed to impact.
Opal should also be kept away from high heat and sudden temperature changes, which can cause cracking or crazing. For cleaning, warm soapy water is the safest option; ultrasonic and steam cleaning should be avoided.
Tourmaline: The Modern October Stone
Tourmaline gives October birthdays a very different option.
It has one of the widest colour ranges of any gemstone, which is part of what makes it so interesting to design with. Pink, red, green and blue tourmalines are all popular, while some stones display multiple colours within the same crystal.
Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it generally suitable for everyday jewellery. It is still not indestructible, though, and heat or sudden temperature changes can damage the stone.
For an everyday ring, tourmaline is generally the more practical choice of the two October birthstones.
The colour is where the fun begins. A soft pink tourmaline creates a completely different feeling from a vivid green, deep blue or bi-coloured stone. That gives us a lot of room to design something around the person who will wear it.
Opal vs Tourmaline: Which Is More Durable?
This is often the question that decides an October birthstone piece.
Rings are the hard test.
A ring takes more daily contact than most other jewellery. It meets door handles, desks, countertops and everything else your hands encounter throughout the day.
For a ring that will be worn frequently, tourmaline is generally the safer choice because of its greater hardness and durability compared with opal.
Opal can still be used in a ring, especially when the design offers additional protection and the wearer understands that it requires more care. But if you're looking for a stone you can wear regularly with fewer concerns, tourmaline has the practical advantage.
Pendants and earrings suit opal particularly well.
A pendant sits away from the hands and takes much less impact, allowing the colour and movement of the opal to become the focus of the design.
This is one of the things I consider when designing a custom piece: I don't just ask which stone you love. I ask how you want to live with it.
Designing the Piece Around the Stone
Once we know the gemstone and how the piece will be worn, the design details begin to fall into place.
For a softer stone like opal, a bezel setting can provide additional protection around the edges. A bezel surrounds the stone with a rim of metal, helping protect the edges from everyday contact.
Tourmaline offers more flexibility in setting styles, including prong settings that leave more of the gemstone visible.
The metal can also influence the overall look.
Warm stones such as pink tourmaline and the golden or orange flashes found in some opals can look beautiful with yellow or rose gold. Cooler blues, greens and violets can create a crisp contrast with white gold or platinum.
Match the metal to the colour, and the stone can look like it was always meant to sit there.
Family and Multi-Stone Birthstone Jewellery
Some of my favourite October commissions aren't for one person at all.
Parents sometimes ask for a ring or pendant carrying a birthstone for each child. Couples may combine two birthstones to represent two birthdays, two people or an important family connection.
One stone per person.
A custom piece can hold several birthstones without looking crowded, as long as the design gives each stone its own space and purpose.
That's where custom jewellery becomes especially meaningful. Instead of trying to fit several stones into an existing design, we can build the piece around the story from the beginning.
You can explore my approach to custom jewellery, or take a look at the custom pendants and custom earrings I've created for similar ideas.
Ordering Ahead for an October Birthday
The timing for a custom jewellery piece depends on the design.
A simple setting can move more quickly than a ring that requires a specific gemstone to be sourced. If you're looking for a particular colour, size or type of opal or tourmaline, finding the right stone can add time to the process.
Start before the birthday, rather than the week of it.
If you're considering a custom piece, giving yourself a few weeks—or longer for a more involved design—leaves room for choosing the stone, making design adjustments and completing any necessary sizing.
You can also read my guide on how long it takes to create a custom piece of jewellery for a better idea of the process and timing.
October Birthstone FAQs
Which stone should I choose for an October birthday?
It depends on how you plan to wear the jewellery. Tourmaline is generally the better choice for a ring worn frequently, while opal can be an excellent choice for pendants and earrings where it is less exposed to impact.
Is opal good for an everyday ring?
Opal is a softer gemstone, typically ranging from 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it requires more care than harder gemstones. It can be used in a ring with thoughtful design and careful wear, but it may not be the best choice for a ring you never take off.
Is tourmaline durable enough to wear every day?
Generally, yes. Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and is generally suitable for everyday wear. It should still be protected from heat and sudden temperature changes, and warm soapy water is the recommended cleaning method.
How do I care for an opal?
Keep opal away from high heat, sudden temperature changes and harsh chemicals. Store it separately from harder gemstones that could scratch it, and clean it gently with warm soapy water. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners should be avoided. Can I combine two birthstones in one piece?
Yes. A ring or pendant can carry a stone for each child, partner or family member. The design simply needs to give each gemstone enough space to remain visually balanced.
Can you design around a stone I already own?
Yes. If you have an opal or tourmaline from another piece of jewellery, we can discuss creating a new design around it or resetting the stone into something you will enjoy wearing more often.
Book a Consultation
If you have an October birthday to celebrate, or you'd like to create a birthstone piece of your own, book a consultation at my Ladner Village studio.
Bring a photo of a piece you love, an idea you've been thinking about, or even a gemstone you already own. We can talk through opal, tourmaline, settings, metal choices and timing together.
The goal isn't simply to choose an October birthstone.
It's to create a piece that makes sense for you—and that you'll actually want to wear.