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October Birthstone: All About the Tourmaline
October babies have the pleasure of enjoying two birthstones to commemorate their birthdays –tourmalines and opals. This post is all about the October birthstone, tourmalines.
The word tourmaline comes from Sinhalese word turmali, which means “mixed.” Tourmalines exist in more colors and color combinations than any other gemstone in the world. Perhaps this is why ancient mystics believed tourmaline could inspire artistic expression – it has a color palette for every mood. What color tourmaline best fits your mood?
Pink and green tourmalines are widely available and affordable. More expensive and rare tourmalines are blue indicolite, red rubellite, Paraiba (neon blues to greens) and an intense green tourmaline found in Kenya and Tanzania called the chrome tourmaline. Tourmalines are most commonly found in Brazil, but also through Africa, the Middle East, and even in California and Maine in the United States.
Tourmalines grow in long, pencil-like crystals so are more commonly cut into an emerald shape stone. Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which is relatively hard and suitable to everyday wear. How do you clean a tourmaline? Easy! Clean with mild dish soap and a toothbrush, gently scrubbing where dust might collect. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner with Rubellite and Paraiba tourmalines.
Do you own a tourmaline or want to buy one for a October birthday gift or special moment? Find the GIA gemstone buying guide here: Gemstone Buying Guide.