OPAL ~ October’s Birthstone

QUEEN OF GEMSTONES
October birthstone OPAL has been used as a gemstone since Antiquity. Even though tourmaline is a more recent discovery. Tourmaline is  dubbed as the “Rainbow Gem” due to the wide variety of colors. When warmed, tourmaline creates static electricity. On the mohs scale, tourmaline has a hardness of  7-7.5, same as aquamarine and quartz. Diamonds are rated as 10 .

OPULENT OPAL
Opal comes from the Sanskrit word “Upala”. The Romans are known to have commonly used the words “opalus” to describe the semi-precious stone.  Opals is part of the mineraloid category. It is a shapeless form of silica. This is due to its water content that ranges between 3% to 21%.

TIFFANY OPAL NECKLACE ~ Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Stand out and bring a little bit of the grandeur of the Ancients such as Queen Cleopatra: Green Tourmaline and Opal necklace ( as the one shown above).

The most abundant OPALS are mined in Australia. The Aussies have the best black opals along with red diamonds. Opals are deep underground and hard to mine. Once found, there is a rich abundant supply of Opals in many colours. Opals are 5.5-6.5 on the hardness scale. They are not precious gems but classified as a mineral. Their beauty is so magnificent that 10th month on the calendar year is celebrated by the OPAL!

Gemologist Vanig ~ Designer for 35 years

LORNE PARK JEWELLERS ~ CUSTOM MADE JEWELLERY
The artisans at Lorne Park Jewellers design many wedding rings, re-design your keepsakes and will create the most outstanding jewellery for your specification.
Thousands of designs to view with quality and perfection as your guide. Many of our customers are from Oakville to Toronto and beyond. We look forward to meeting you and will provide you with our knowledge and skills in your jewellery requirements.

How is Opal Valued? 
VANIG, a qualified gemologists determines the value of the OPAL at the body tone, brilliance, pattern and colour bar thickness. Other important factors are the play of colours and faults in the OPAL.

Custom Quality at Lorne Park Jewellers

Vanig will examine the OPAL before purchasing it for customers. OPALS are so varied in color and style they are only purchased when customers request an OPAL pendant, earrings or rings. The customer will see the OPAL before it is fashioned into a cherished custom piece of jewellery. Good service is very important to us at Lorne Park Jewellers.

THE AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION
Typical Opals from Australia come in shimmering shades. You could safely say each opal is unique.

Opals from Australia

At Lorne Park Jewellers, our quality gem stones have all been professionally graded. LPJ has an onsite Certified Gemologist (Vanig). Your diamond or any stone is of the highest quality at Lorne Park Jewellers.
A personal invitation from Vanig.
Lorne Park Jewellery Store, 1107 Lorne Park Road, Mississauga,ON, Canada.
Tel: 905-891-0001 email: info @lorneparkjewellers.ca
website: lorneparkjewellers.ca
Diamond Engagement Rings www.engagementringsstore.ca
CANADIAN Mined Diamonds
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
Take confidence in knowing that every diamond engagement ring we sell is certified and appraised by a third-party (CJA).

October Birthstone ~ Tourmaline

October combines both Tourmaline and Opals as the official birthstone. Why? It remains a mystery.

ARE OPALS A MINERAL OR A GEM?
Some Gemologists don’t consider opal a a gem but as a mineral. Opals are a not minerals, they are mineraloids. In 2008 NASA announced it had found opal deposits on Mars
Australia is best known for its opals. Today, they produces 97% of the world’s opals. Opal’s colours range from white to black. Each shade has a myriad of electrifying colours with an almost iridescent look. Opals are primarily made from silica. The story is that lightning came from the sky and left its mark ~ the opal. Perhaps that is why the opal and tourmaline are brought together in October. They both come in an abundance in colours.

TOURMALINE
Tourmalines come in colours of emerald green, pale green to brilliant pinks and yellows. What is unique about tourmaline is that it can become electrically charged when they are heated and then allowed to cool. It is a popular gem that has great sparkle in its facets when cut.

Tourmalines are gems with an incomparable variety of colours. The reason, according to an old Egyptian legend, is that the tourmaline, on its long journey up from the centre of the Earth, passed over a rainbow. … published by gemstone.org

Tourmaline In A Rainbow Of Colours

At Lorne Park Jewellers, our quality gem stones have all been professionally graded. LPJ has an onsite Certified Gemologist (Vanig). Your diamond or any stone is of the highest quality at Lorne Park Jewellers.
A personal invitation from Vanig.
Lorne Park Jewellery Store, 1107 Lorne Park Road, Mississauga,ON, Canada.
Tel: 905-891-0001 email: info @lorneparkjewellers.ca
website: lorneparkjewellers.ca
Diamond Engagement Rings www.engagementringsstore.ca
CANADIAN Mined Diamonds
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
Take confidence in knowing that every diamond engagement ring we sell is certified and appraised by a third party (CJA).

October Birthstone -Opal

Australian Fire Opal. courtesy of Macs Opals

For those who were born in the month of October the Opal is the traditional birthstone. The word Opal is derived from the Greek ‘Opallios’ (to observe color change) and Latin ‘Opalus’ (seeing jewel). Ancient Romans ranked opals above all other gemstones and paid high prices for the luxurious and fortune-bringing stones. The Opal group is very wide in varieties and is divided in three categories: Precious Opals, Fire Opals and Common Opals, all characterized by the opalescence colors. To see more fiery opals, visit the Australian opal miner at www.macsopals.com/blog The common opal has a gel like appearance without the rainbow of colours inside. “Water opals” are clear and slightly cloudy looking. Opals are mined primarily in Australia, Mexico and the U.S.

Opals on Mars, picture courtesy of geology.com

OPALS FOUND ON MARS
Yes that’s right opals were found on Mars. That is why the scientists determined that there was once water on Mars. Water is an ingredient needed to form the silicon based opals. Without a crystalline structure, the opal is a “mineraloid” rather than a “mineral”. Sounds a bit Martian like to me. If you are interested to know, meteorites that landed of earth do not have any gemstones embedded in them. They do possess a magnetic quality. Shakespeare said the opal was the Queen of gems. I suspect the carbon based diamond would be the king. To see all the different kinds of opals found in the world, please go to www.geology.com

Opals were discovered in Australia at Lightning Ridge in the late 1880s and the first shaft was dug in 1901 or 1902. Today, Australia supplies 95% of the world market and it is the national stone of the country. Black opals are mined in Australia only. They are named black opals and come in a range of colours; cobalt blue, greens, and blacks with vibrant colours inside the stones.

NEXT: I would like to share with you the following video to see the crystal Opal. There is a more translucent appearance that is different from the milky hue of the white base-color opals. A bright sparkle of rainbow colours compared to soft pastels typical of the common opal. There are not many around. If you are fortunate to see one, you too will marvel at its unique appeal.

We believe that the jewellery you wear should be one of a kind, like you. Lorne Park Jewellers will make each piece to order. Just the way you want it.

A personal invitation from Vanig.
Lorne Park Jewellery Store, 1107 Lorne Park Road, Mississauga,ON, Canada.
Tel: 905-891-0001 email: info @lorneparkjewellers.ca
website: lorneparkjewellers.ca
Diamond Engagement Rings www.engagementringsstore.ca
All diamonds are set here in CANADA
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
Take confidence in knowing that every diamond engagement ring we sell is certified and appraised by a third party

October is for Opal and Pink Tourmaline

The birthstone for October is typically the Pink Tourmaline. Others are strong believers in the opal to represent October as the gem of the month. Whatever camp you prefer to belong to, we will give both sides equal time.

Tourmaline comes in an array of colours Pink Tourmaline and pink sapphires are popular.

The gemstone Tourmaline is the “official” birthstone for October as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. And, the accepted gem for the 8th wedding anniversary.
The most expensive tourmalines are the blue indicolite, green verdelite and pink rubellite.
Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:
Ancient legend says that tourmaline is found in all colors because it traveled along a rainbow and gathered all the the rainbow’s colors.
Tourmaline is believed to strengthen the body and spirit, especially the nervous system, blood, and lymphs. It is also thought to inspire creativity and was used extensively as a talisman by artists and writers.

Opals from Australia

Birthstone-OPAL: It’s name is said to be taken from the Sanskrit word “upala” which means “precious stone”. Throughout history, opal has been regarded as a stone of good fortune. In ancient times, precious opal was included among the noble gems; it was believed that the gem possessed magical properties. Opal possesses a fascination no other gemstone has.

Everything about them is different They have a magnetic warmth in their wonderful glowing colors not found in any other stone while their beauty has stirred the hearts of artistic souls and the passions of mankind for centuries. 90% of opals are mined in the centre of Australia. From iridescent whites, pinks,some green and the hardest of all the black opal are made into jewellery.

October Birth stone poem – the Opal
“October’s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.”

October Birthstone Zodiac Sign
If it wasn’t confusing enough, they have selected Zodiac gemstones For October too. Libra would wear a Peridot; typical for August’s birthstone as you know. If your zodiac sign is Scorpio, starting the end of October, you are adorned with the Aquamarine. Here is the official answer to the mystery of October’s birthstone.
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The October birthstone of the Opal is considered to be the birthstone for Libra (The sign of the Scales) and relate to those born between October 24 and November 22. The Zodiac sign of Libra also responds to Peridot, Agate Aquamarine, Tourmaline and Sapphire.

BLACK OPAL: The rarest and most valuable opal is the black opal, and in its crystalline form it is amongst the most valuable gemstones in the world. Although known as black opal, this highly precious gemstone is famous for its striking colours. It can display a wide range of colours, from greens, purples and blues to yellows, oranges and reds. Each piece of opal is completely unique. It is the black crystal opal that we set in our inlay jewellery. It is all mined in Mintabie in South Australia, virtually right in the centre of the country.
The crystalline form of black opal has a relative hardness of 6.5, compared to other forms of opal at 5.5, so it is hardier than the other forms and more difficult to scratch. Set inlaid in 18ct Yellow Gold or Sterling Silver, these pieces are extremely durable and can be worn all of the time.
A personal invitation from Vanig.
Lorne Park Jewellery Store, 1107 Lorne Park Road, Mississauga,ON, Canada.
Tel: 905-891-0001 email: info @lorneparkjewellers.ca
website: lorneparkjewellers.ca
Diamond Engagement Rings www.engagementringsstore.ca
All diamonds are set here in CANADA
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
Take confidence in knowing that every diamond engagement ring we sell is certified and appraised by a third party