It comes in an incredible array of colours and even has electrical properties. Could tourmaline be the most exciting of all the coloured gemstones?
The birthstone for October, tourmaline, has been used in jewellery for centuries but it wasn’t fully understood until relatively recently – for a long time, it was confused with other gemstones such as ruby or emerald. Today, however, you’ll find it in its rightful place at the centre of October’s most meaningful jewellery gifts. Whether you’re looking for birthstone gift ideas or are simply curious about this intriguing birthstone, read on to discover the history of tourmaline, what it symbolises and what to expect from our favourite tourmaline jewellery.
What is the October birthstone?
October’s birthstone is tourmaline, a gemstone that comes in a wide variety of colours ranging from blues and greens to pinks, reds and even yellows. Here at Austen & Blake you’ll find tourmaline birthstone jewellery in one of its most sought-after shades: a pink that complements any precious metal. Rich and vibrant, tourmaline birthstone jewellery is a meaningful gift for anyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary in this month.
What is tourmaline?
Tourmaline is a boron silicate mineral, with a crystal structure built mainly from silicon, oxygen, boron and aluminium. Trace elements then create the different colours: for example, iron produces green or blue tourmaline, while manganese is responsible for reds and pinks. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, tourmaline gemstones are widely used in both everyday and special occasion jewellery.
The name tourmaline comes from toramalli, which is a Sinhalese term meaning ‘mixed gems’. It’s easy to see why. Tourmalines come in a broad spectrum of colours, which means that they’re often mistaken for other gemstones. In the 1500s, for example, tourmalines found in Brazil were believed to be emeralds. In fact, it wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists recognised and classified tourmaline as a distinct gemstone group in its own right.
Tourmaline is best known for its rainbow of colours, but that’s not its only claim to fame. It’s also prized for its unique electrical properties. When tourmaline is subjected to pressure, or when its temperature changes, it can generate a small electric charge. So while you couldn’t rely on your tourmaline jewellery as a power source, it certainly has a frisson.
Where are tourmalines from?
Most of the tourmalines used in jewellery are formed in pegmatites deep underground. While they’re found on many continents, some of the most important sources are Brazil, the United States, Nigeria, Madagascar and Afghanistan. Brazil in particular has been a supplier since the 16th century; more recently the state of Paraíba in Brazil has given its name to vivid blue to green tourmalines that are highly prized for their rarity.
What does tourmaline symbolise?
The spiritual meaning of tourmaline comes from its rainbow of shades. Because tourmaline brings a wide range of different colours together, it’s known as a symbol of harmony and protection. It’s also widely associated with creativity and inspiration – so don’t be surprised if your tourmaline birthstone jewellery gift sparks a new creative project into life. Then there are the qualities associated with the individual colours: the pink tourmaline used in Austen & Blake jewellery, for example, represents love and romance. Overall, if you’re looking for October birthstone jewellery with meaning, tourmaline is a gemstone that carries its own personal message.
What to look for when buying tourmaline jewellery
When you’re considering buying tourmaline jewellery, the colour is key – ideally, you should see a vivid, intense colour that’s neither too light nor too dark. Tourmalines are graded according to their cut, clarity and colour on a scale that runs from A to AAAA; a rating of AAA will hit the sweet spot with saturated colour, a high-quality cut and eye-clean appearance.
Ultimately, finding the right tourmaline jewellery gift all comes down to personal preference. If you’re shopping for someone special, think about their individual style and the precious metals they usually wear to find a piece they’ll love.
What is birthstone jewellery?
Quite simply, birthstone jewellery is set with gemstones that represent your birth month. There’s a gemstone for every month of the year, from garnet in January to tanzanite in December, and a gemstone for every anniversary – pearl, for example, represents three years of marriage while ruby celebrates forty years together. It’s a thoughtful way to mark an important milestone in someone’s life.
As well as representing a point in the calendar, birthstone birthday gifts carry an additional layer of meaning. Each gemstone has its own associations: amethyst, for example, symbolises calm, clarity and wisdom, while aquamarine has connotations of serenity and courage. So while tourmaline birthstone jewellery gifts are perfect for anyone born in October, a tourmaline necklace or earrings will also appeal to anyone who loves to express their creativity.
Popular tourmaline jewellery styles
Inspired to treat yourself or someone you love to this inspirational birthstone? At Austen & Blake, we use tourmalines in a deep, rich shade of pink to create our tourmaline gemstone jewellery. Discover our most popular tourmaline rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets for celebrating an October birthday or adding to your own collection.
Tourmaline rings
At Austen & Blake, we have tourmaline birthstone rings for every occasion. If your partner was born in October, a tourmaline engagement ring makes the moment even more personal: choose from simple solitaire designs, side stone rings and halo engagement rings starring this pink gemstone. Some of our most popular styles lean into tourmaline’s creative properties. Our Knot ring, for example, frames a round tourmaline gemstone in the centre of a curving knot shape to put a contemporary twist on the classic solitaire style.
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Tourmaline earrings
Pink tourmaline earrings light up your face with colour, energising your look in an instant. At Austen & Blake, you’ll find tourmalines set into a broad range of styles, including neat huggies, delicate drop earrings and diamond hoops with pear-shaped tourmaline drops. The most popular tourmaline earrings in our collection are also the most practical. Our Bloom earrings are minimalist solitaire studs featuring round tourmalines in a protective bezel setting. It’s a durable style you can wear day in, day out, with confidence.
Tourmaline necklaces
Day or evening, work or weekend, a tourmaline necklace is an effortless way to add a pop of colour to any outfit. At Austen & Blake, our October birthstone jewellery is made using pink tourmalines that pair beautifully with all our precious metals, whether it’s the warm tones of yellow and rose gold or the cooler tones of platinum, white gold and silver. Show off the beauty of a pink tourmaline with a pared-back solitaire necklace. Our Myrtle pendant is a perfectly judged piece.
Tourmaline bracelets
Versatile and easy to wear, bracelets are always among our most popular birthstone jewellery gift ideas. If you’re looking for a tourmaline bracelet, designs at Austen & Blake include tennis bracelets featuring the October birthstone in place of, or alongside, sparkling diamonds to put a new spin on a classic style. Topping the tourmaline bracelet bestsellers? Our Latina bracelet features pear-shaped tourmalines interspersed with round and marquise diamonds all the way around for a contemporary style with an organic feel.
Is tourmaline expensive?
Tourmaline is considered to be semi-precious, which makes it more accessible than precious gemstones like sapphire, emerald and ruby. That said, the value of tourmaline does depend on the rarity of the individual gemstone. Rare varieties such as the Paraíba tourmaline from Brazil, which is highly prized for its vivid blue/green colour, can command high prices. Quality also plays a part. Heirloom-grade tourmalines, particularly when they display intense, saturated colour and exceptional clarity, will also be higher in price. Generally, though, if you’re looking for affordable tourmaline jewellery, you have plenty of options.
How to care for tourmaline
To take care of tourmaline, treat it gently. Earrings, rings or pendant, here’s how to keep your tourmaline jewellery looking its best for years to come:
- Soak your piece in warm water with a little mild detergent
- If necessary, use a very soft toothbrush to gently clean the settings
- Don’t use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner
- Make sure your jewellery is thoroughly dry before storing it away
Visit our education centre for more tips on how to care for your jewellery.
How to store tourmaline jewellery
Ranking 7 or 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, tourmaline is softer than other gemstones such as diamond. To avoid your tourmaline jewellery getting scratched in storage, we recommend keeping it separate from your other pieces, safely tucked away in its own individual bag or pouch. As with the rest of your collection, your tourmaline pieces should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from any moisture or sudden temperature changes.
A final thought
Inspired to enter the world of tourmaline jewellery? Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift featuring the October birthstone or seeking to brighten up your own jewellery collection, you’ll find tourmalines to treasure at Austen & Blake. Explore our tourmaline earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets in pink tourmaline and discover the appeal of this intriguing gemstone.
Shop our collection of tourmaline jewellery now.
By Kat Hill
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It comes in an incredible array of colours and even has electrical properties. Could tourmaline be the most exciting of all the coloured gemstones?
The birthstone for October, tourmaline, has been used in jewellery for centuries but it wasn’t fully understood until relatively recently – for a long time, it was confused with other gemstones such as ruby or emerald. Today, however, you’ll find it in its rightful place at the centre of October’s most meaningful jewellery gifts. Whether you’re looking for birthstone gift ideas or are simply curious about this intriguing birthstone, read on to discover the history of tourmaline, what it symbolises and what to expect from our favourite tourmaline jewellery.
What is the October birthstone?
October’s birthstone is tourmaline, a gemstone that comes in a wide variety of colours ranging from blues and greens to pinks, reds and even yellows. Here at Austen & Blake you’ll find tourmaline birthstone jewellery in one of its most sought-after shades: a pink that complements any precious metal. Rich and vibrant, tourmaline birthstone jewellery is a meaningful gift for anyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary in this month.
What is tourmaline?
Tourmaline is a boron silicate mineral, with a crystal structure built mainly from silicon, oxygen, boron and aluminium. Trace elements then create the different colours: for example, iron produces green or blue tourmaline, while manganese is responsible for reds and pinks. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, tourmaline gemstones are widely used in both everyday and special occasion jewellery.
The name tourmaline comes from toramalli, which is a Sinhalese term meaning ‘mixed gems’. It’s easy to see why. Tourmalines come in a broad spectrum of colours, which means that they’re often mistaken for other gemstones. In the 1500s, for example, tourmalines found in Brazil were believed to be emeralds. In fact, it wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists recognised and classified tourmaline as a distinct gemstone group in its own right.
Tourmaline is best known for its rainbow of colours, but that’s not its only claim to fame. It’s also prized for its unique electrical properties. When tourmaline is subjected to pressure, or when its temperature changes, it can generate a small electric charge. So while you couldn’t rely on your tourmaline jewellery as a power source, it certainly has a frisson.
Where are tourmalines from?
Most of the tourmalines used in jewellery are formed in pegmatites deep underground. While they’re found on many continents, some of the most important sources are Brazil, the United States, Nigeria, Madagascar and Afghanistan. Brazil in particular has been a supplier since the 16th century; more recently the state of Paraíba in Brazil has given its name to vivid blue to green tourmalines that are highly prized for their rarity.
What does tourmaline symbolise?
The spiritual meaning of tourmaline comes from its rainbow of shades. Because tourmaline brings a wide range of different colours together, it’s known as a symbol of harmony and protection. It’s also widely associated with creativity and inspiration – so don’t be surprised if your tourmaline birthstone jewellery gift sparks a new creative project into life. Then there are the qualities associated with the individual colours: the pink tourmaline used in Austen & Blake jewellery, for example, represents love and romance. Overall, if you’re looking for October birthstone jewellery with meaning, tourmaline is a gemstone that carries its own personal message.
What to look for when buying tourmaline jewellery
When you’re considering buying tourmaline jewellery, the colour is key – ideally, you should see a vivid, intense colour that’s neither too light nor too dark. Tourmalines are graded according to their cut, clarity and colour on a scale that runs from A to AAAA; a rating of AAA will hit the sweet spot with saturated colour, a high-quality cut and eye-clean appearance.
Ultimately, finding the right tourmaline jewellery gift all comes down to personal preference. If you’re shopping for someone special, think about their individual style and the precious metals they usually wear to find a piece they’ll love.
What is birthstone jewellery?
Quite simply, birthstone jewellery is set with gemstones that represent your birth month. There’s a gemstone for every month of the year, from garnet in January to tanzanite in December, and a gemstone for every anniversary – pearl, for example, represents three years of marriage while ruby celebrates forty years together. It’s a thoughtful way to mark an important milestone in someone’s life.
As well as representing a point in the calendar, birthstone birthday gifts carry an additional layer of meaning. Each gemstone has its own associations: amethyst, for example, symbolises calm, clarity and wisdom, while aquamarine has connotations of serenity and courage. So while tourmaline birthstone jewellery gifts are perfect for anyone born in October, a tourmaline necklace or earrings will also appeal to anyone who loves to express their creativity.
Popular tourmaline jewellery styles
Inspired to treat yourself or someone you love to this inspirational birthstone? At Austen & Blake, we use tourmalines in a deep, rich shade of pink to create our tourmaline gemstone jewellery. Discover our most popular tourmaline rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets for celebrating an October birthday or adding to your own collection.
Tourmaline rings
At Austen & Blake, we have tourmaline birthstone rings for every occasion. If your partner was born in October, a tourmaline engagement ring makes the moment even more personal: choose from simple solitaire designs, side stone rings and halo engagement rings starring this pink gemstone. Some of our most popular styles lean into tourmaline’s creative properties. Our Knot ring, for example, frames a round tourmaline gemstone in the centre of a curving knot shape to put a contemporary twist on the classic solitaire style.
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Tourmaline earrings
Pink tourmaline earrings light up your face with colour, energising your look in an instant. At Austen & Blake, you’ll find tourmalines set into a broad range of styles, including neat huggies, delicate drop earrings and diamond hoops with pear-shaped tourmaline drops. The most popular tourmaline earrings in our collection are also the most practical. Our Bloom earrings are minimalist solitaire studs featuring round tourmalines in a protective bezel setting. It’s a durable style you can wear day in, day out, with confidence.
Tourmaline necklaces
Day or evening, work or weekend, a tourmaline necklace is an effortless way to add a pop of colour to any outfit. At Austen & Blake, our October birthstone jewellery is made using pink tourmalines that pair beautifully with all our precious metals, whether it’s the warm tones of yellow and rose gold or the cooler tones of platinum, white gold and silver. Show off the beauty of a pink tourmaline with a pared-back solitaire necklace. Our Myrtle pendant is a perfectly judged piece.
Tourmaline bracelets
Versatile and easy to wear, bracelets are always among our most popular birthstone jewellery gift ideas. If you’re looking for a tourmaline bracelet, designs at Austen & Blake include tennis bracelets featuring the October birthstone in place of, or alongside, sparkling diamonds to put a new spin on a classic style. Topping the tourmaline bracelet bestsellers? Our Latina bracelet features pear-shaped tourmalines interspersed with round and marquise diamonds all the way around for a contemporary style with an organic feel.
Is tourmaline expensive?
Tourmaline is considered to be semi-precious, which makes it more accessible than precious gemstones like sapphire, emerald and ruby. That said, the value of tourmaline does depend on the rarity of the individual gemstone. Rare varieties such as the Paraíba tourmaline from Brazil, which is highly prized for its vivid blue/green colour, can command high prices. Quality also plays a part. Heirloom-grade tourmalines, particularly when they display intense, saturated colour and exceptional clarity, will also be higher in price. Generally, though, if you’re looking for affordable tourmaline jewellery, you have plenty of options.
How to care for tourmaline
To take care of tourmaline, treat it gently. Earrings, rings or pendant, here’s how to keep your tourmaline jewellery looking its best for years to come:
Visit our education centre for more tips on how to care for your jewellery.
How to store tourmaline jewellery
Ranking 7 or 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, tourmaline is softer than other gemstones such as diamond. To avoid your tourmaline jewellery getting scratched in storage, we recommend keeping it separate from your other pieces, safely tucked away in its own individual bag or pouch. As with the rest of your collection, your tourmaline pieces should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from any moisture or sudden temperature changes.
A final thought
Inspired to enter the world of tourmaline jewellery? Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift featuring the October birthstone or seeking to brighten up your own jewellery collection, you’ll find tourmalines to treasure at Austen & Blake. Explore our tourmaline earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets in pink tourmaline and discover the appeal of this intriguing gemstone.
Shop our collection of tourmaline jewellery now.