The simple answer is all three. Originally Opal was the only stone selected to represent October, but later on Tourmaline was added, and eventually extended to Rose Quartz.

To many people October is the month of romance. We love this autumn season for its ever-changing colors, brisky cool temperature, and a general vibe of coziness. Why are these gemstones selected to symbolize October? The stories and theories are intriguing, let’s read on to find out!

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22) and Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) are the Zodiac signs of October. We can look into astrology for critical clues to why Opal was selected to represent the month, because modern birthstones were curated by organizations like the National Jewelers of American, and astrology always plays an important role to the decision.  

A convincing hypothesis goes like this: Libra’s ruling planet is Venus which traditionally symbolize light and radiance; by extension further represents pleasure, desire and everything luxurious. High in feminine energy, Opal is the perfect embodiment of these qualities marked by its unique sparkling effect.

In another aspect the multi-color Opal correlates with the hue of autumn season, which adds on to the planet Venus association.

Our Scorpios friends are deeply emotional and intense with all things they pursuit. There is simply no better gemstone best describe this characteristic than Opal. Just look at this beautiful gemstone, the shimmering multi-color effect known as the Opalescence evoke all kinds of passion and emotions. Opal is a natural fit for Scorpios.

Beautiful as the Opal are, it is one of the rarest gemstones on Earth, which obviously comes with a handsome price tag. Plus, aesthetically speaking Opal is too feminine for some people’s taste, and thus Tourmaline was officially added as a second choice for October birthstone. Tourmaline comes in many colors too, which makes a great representation for the autumn vibe; also coincide with the temperament of both October Zodiacs.

Tourmaline comes in many colors reminiscent of autumn. A well recognize color is pink, with the top-quality specimens also called Rubellite. Other variants like purple, green, brown, yellow, black, white, and anything in between are adore by gemstone lovers. The most prized are the teal variant known as Paraiba Tourmaline, a stunning beauty and also one of the rarest stone on earth. Tourmaline is so colorful, in some aspect could be a better representation of Autumn color than Opal.

We see why Tourmaline was adopted as the second birthstone of October in the beginning of 20th Century. With the abundance choice of color, Pink Tourmaline is still the more popular variation. With the public’s recognition of Pink Tourmaline as October birthstone, in recent years some people feel that the pink hue of Tourmaline is too intense, and thus opted for the pastel-colored Rose Quartz. Although not “officially” an October birthstone, nowadays we commonly see Rose quartz also as an October birthstone and love it for the gentle shade of pink. Compares to Pink Tourmaline, Rose quartz have a more casual vibe and very suitable for daily wear.

With so many choices of birthstone for October, which one best suit you really boil down to a matter of personal preference. All three gemstones are different type of beauty to be admire in their own way. Why not all three for the vibrant mood of October?