October Birthstone: Meaning and History

By Olivia Deskoski. Updated October 2026.

Opal is the birthstone for October. Known for its play-of-colour, flashes of colour that shift as the stone moves, opal has long symbolised hope, creativity and good fortune. Tourmaline is October's second birthstone, but opal is the traditional choice, and most of the world's gem-quality opal comes from Australia.

Shopping for an October birthday? Browse our opal birthstone jewellery, with pieces to suite every budget.

Opal has been part of my life since childhood, first on the Lightning Ridge opal fields and then in my parents' jewellery business. In this guide I share what I've learned about how it forms, what it means, and how to choose one.

October Birthstone At A Glance

Birthstones	Opal (traditional) and tourmaline
Zodiac Signs	Libra and Scorpio
Colours	Flashes of red, orange, yellow, pink, green, blue and violet
Symbolism	Hope, creativity, love and good fortune
Main Source	Australia (Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, Queensland)
Hardness	5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale
Anniversary	Often listed as the 14th wedding anniversary gemstone

What Is Opal?

Opal forms over millions of years through a natural process involving water and silica. As water seeps through the earth, it carries microscopic silica particles into underground cracks and cavities. Over time as the water evaporates, leaving tiny silica spheres stacked in a regular, grid-like pattern.

These spheres split light into colour, creating opal's famous play-of-colour. Their size decides which colours you see: larger spheres produce red and orange, the rarest colours, while smaller spheres create the more common blues and greens. No two opals share the same pattern, so there's no single 'opal colour'. Every stone is one of a kind, which is part of why opal is known as the Queen of Gems.

Types Of Opal

Opal comes in several different types, each with its own character. Australian opal is regarded as the finest in the world for its colour, stability and variety.

• Black opal: A dark body tone makes the colours look bold and vivid. Found mainly at Lightning Ridge.

• Crystal opal: Transparent to semi-transparent with brilliant colour play, found in South Australia, Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs.

• White opal: A light or milky body tone with soft, gentle colour. Found mainly in South Australia.

• Boulder opal: Forms on natural ironstone, which adds durability. Found in Queensland

• Doublets and triplets: Composite opal stones made from a layer of genuine opal joined to a dark backing (and, for triplets, a clear cap). An affordable way to enjoy bright colour.

• Fire opal: Usually orange to red, and mostly found in Mexico.

• Ethiopian opal: Can show brightplay-of-colour, but is often more porous than Australian opal.

Browse our loose Australian opals.

Why Is Opal The October Birthstone?

Birthstones like a gemstones to each month of the year, and wearing one has long been seen as a way to bring luck and personal meaning. Opal was names October's birthstone on the first standard birthstone list, published in 1912. Today, Tourmaline is recognised as the month's second birthstone, but opal remains the traditional choice.

Where Does The Word 'Opal' Come From?

The name is often traced to the Sanskrit word upala, meaning "precious stone". The Greeks called it opallios, said to mean "to see a change of colour", and the Romans named it opalus. Each version reflects what people noticed first: a stone that changes colour as you look at it.

What Does The October Birthstone Mean?

Opal has been symbolic for thousands of years. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described it as combining the colours of many gemstones, from the fiery red of carbuncle to the purple of amethyst and the sea-green of emerald. Greek legend is said to have linked opal with foresight, and Arabic stories describe opals falling from the sky in flashes of lightning.

Not every chapter was kind. In 1829, Sir Walter Scott's novel Anne of Geierstein linked an opal with misfortune, and the "unlucky opal" myth followed the stone for decades. Opal's reputation recovered as bright Australian opal reached the world in the late 1800s, and in 1993 it was proclaimed Australia's national gemstone. Read more about opal's bad luck myth.

Traditionally, opal is associated with:

• Hope and good fortune
• Creativity and imagination
• Love and emotional expression
• Truth and new beginnings

These beliefs come from folklore rather than science, but they're a lovely part of opal's story, and a big reason opal makes a meaningful birthday gift.

What Are The Benefits Of Wearing Opal Birthstones?

Opals are not only beautiful but some believe they offer metaphysical and emotional benefits, which are believed to pass onto those who wear or carry opal stones with them. Among these beliefs, opal is said to:

• Boost creativity and originality, and enhance intuition and insight

• Stimulate love and passion, and encourage spontaneity and joyful living

• Protect against negative energy and amplify personal power and self-worth

How to Choose an October Birthstone Gift

Most people who ask me for help are buying opal for the first time, often as a surprise. Here's what I suggest.

• Not sure of her size? Choose October birthstone necklaces or opal earrings. They fit everyone, and pendants are the easiest opal to wear every day.
• Buying a ring? Look for a bezel or halo setting, which protects the edges of the stone from knocks. Browse our opal rings.
• Something for every day? Studs, pendants and opal bracelets worn alone sit away from most bumps.
• Set a budget first. Doublets, triplets and smaller solid opals in sterling silver or gold plated silver make a beautiful first opal, with earrings from around $115 AUD. Solid crystal and boulder opal sit in the middle of the range, and solid gold or Lightning Ridge black opal suit milestone birthdays.
• Choose with your eyes. Tilt the stone and look for colour that moves across its face. If one piece catches your eye, it usually catches hers too.

See our full range of opal birthstone jewellery.

Is Opal Valuable?

Opal's value ranges widely, from affordable doublets to Lightning Ridge black opals that sell for thousands of dollars per carat. That range is one of opal's strengths: there's a beautiful option for almost every budget. Black opal from Lightning Ridge is the most prized, with boulder and crystal opal also highly sought after.

The main things that affect value are:

• Play-of-colour: The most important factor. Bright, broad flashes of several colours are worth the most.
• Body tone: From black to white or crystal. Darker tones make colour look more vivid.
• Pattern: Harlequin, pinfire and rolling flash are among the most desirable.
• Clarity: The stone should be free of cracks, inclusions and cloudiness.
• Cut and shape: Well-proportioned stones with a smooth dome rank higher.
• Size: Larger fine stones are rarer.
• Type: Solid opal is worth more than doublets and triplets.

Why Choose Australian Opal?

Australia produces most of the world's gem-quality opal, and it's prized for:

• Bright colour and a wide range of types
• Stability, as Australian opal is less prone to cracking than some other sources
• A long mining history, much of it from small, independent operations
• Opal you can trace, when bought from an established Australian specialist

Every jewellery piece from Black Star Opal comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and we're a member of the Australian Opal Association.

October Birthstone FAQs

What are the two birthstones for October?

Opal and tourmaline. Opal is the traditional October birthstone, while tourmaline is recognised as a modern alternative.

What colour is the October birthstone?

Opal has no single colour. It shows flashes of red, orange, green, pink, blue and violet that change as the stone moves. Red is the rarest.

Is opal the birthstone for Libra?

Opal is often linked with Libra, which runs from late September to around 22 October. People born later in October are Scorpios, but opal is still their birthstone month gem.

Is opal unlucky?

No. The idea came from an 1829 novel by Sir Walter Scott, not from tradition. For most of history, opal has been seen as a stone of hope and good fortune.

Can opal get wet?

Solid opal can get wet, but it's best to avoid harsh chemicals. Doublets and triplets should be kept out of water, as it can affect the layers over time.

Is opal a good gift for an October birthday?

Yes. It's the birthstone, every opal is one of a kind, and there are options at every price point. Browse our opal birthstone jewellery for ideas.

About the Author

Growing up on the opal fields of Lightning Ridge and working in her family’s opal business from a teenager, Black Star Opal founder Olivia Deskoski brings deep, first-hand knowledge and rare expertise to Australia’s opal industry. Her qualifications include gemmology and diamond technology studies with the Gemmological Association of Australia, a Masters in Journalism, and extensive experience in e-commerce. In 2015, Olivia created the world’s first opal-themed light installation for Vivid Sydney.

Updated October 2026.