The October birthstone is pink tourmaline — the tender, rosy gem associated with compassion, the heart and gentle love — with opal recognised as October’s traditional alternate. October is one of the months that offers a choice, and at Alya Stone we lead with pink tourmaline for its soft, wearable colour. If you or someone you love has an October birthday, this guide covers what pink tourmaline means, where it comes from, the two star signs it belongs to, and the easiest way to wear it every day.
What is the October birthstone?
October has two birthstones: pink tourmaline (the modern stone, added in the twentieth century) and opal (the older, traditional one). We lead with pink tourmaline because its colour is so easy to live with. Tourmaline is a boron-silicate mineral that comes in the widest colour range of any gem — it is sometimes called the “rainbow gem” — and its pink shades, coloured by manganese, range from the softest blush to a rich raspberry rose. It sits at 7–7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, comfortably suited to everyday jewellery. At Alya Stone we set pink tourmaline in solid 9k recycled gold, never plated, so its gentle pink can be worn and layered for years.
The meaning & symbolism of pink tourmaline
Pink tourmaline is a stone of the heart. Across traditions it has stood for compassion, gentleness, friendship and emotional healing — a soft, reassuring gem associated with unconditional love and a calm, open heart. Tourmaline as a whole was long believed to inspire creativity and artistry, but it is the rosy pink variety that carries the warmest symbolism: tenderness, kindness, and love freely given. That makes a pink tourmaline charm a quietly meaningful way to mark a close friendship, a new chapter, or simply someone you hold dear.
A short history of tourmaline
Tourmaline’s name comes from the Sinhalese turamali, meaning “stone of mixed colours” — a nod to how often it was found in many shades at once and, historically, mistaken for other gems. For centuries pink and red tourmalines were confused with rubies; one of the most famous examples, the “Caesar’s Ruby” pendant, is now believed to be a rubellite (red) tourmaline. Dutch traders brought tourmaline to Europe from Sri Lanka in the 1700s, and in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries California and Brazil became celebrated sources of fine pink stones. Today Brazil, Africa and the United States all produce the rosy tourmaline October is known for.
October birthstone by star sign
October spans two zodiac signs, and pink tourmaline’s warm, heart-centred symbolism suits both:
-
Libra (about 23 September – 22 October): Libra is gracious, harmony-seeking and romantic, and pink tourmaline’s gentle, loving symbolism is a natural match — a fitting birthstone for a Libra.
-
Scorpio (about 23 October – 21 November): Scorpio is passionate and deeply feeling, and the stone’s themes of emotional healing and the open heart complement the sign beautifully — a meaningful birthstone for a Scorpio.
How to wear & gift the October birthstone
The simplest way to wear a birthstone today is as a charm you can add to a necklace and keep close. Our Curation Suite is built for exactly that: choose a chain, then clip on the charms that mean something to you. A pink tourmaline charm makes a tender October birthday gift, a flattering everyday rose that suits warm and cool tones alike, or one stone in a growing family-birthstone necklace where each loved one gets their month.
Two ways to wear October at Alya Stone — the vintage-inspired Aster October Pink Tourmaline Charm with its ribbed-frame setting, or the pavé-set Ellis October Pink Tourmaline Charm. Both are made to order in solid 9k gold.
Browse every month in the Birthstones collection, or read the full Birthstones by Month guide. Looking back along the calendar: the September birthstone, sapphire. Looking ahead: the November birthstone, citrine.
October birthstone FAQ
What is the October birthstone?
October has two birthstones: pink tourmaline (the modern stone) and opal (the traditional one). At Alya Stone we lead with pink tourmaline for its soft, wearable rosy colour.
What does pink tourmaline symbolise?
Pink tourmaline is a stone of the heart, symbolising compassion, gentleness, friendship and emotional healing. Its rosy colour is associated with tenderness and unconditional love.
Why does October have two birthstones?
Birthstone lists evolved over time. Opal is October’s older, traditional stone, while pink tourmaline was added in the twentieth century. Both are legitimate — choose by colour or meaning.
What is the October birthstone for Libra and Scorpio?
Pink tourmaline is shared by both October signs. Its gentle, loving symbolism suits gracious Libra, while its themes of emotional healing resonate with deep-feeling Scorpio.
Is pink tourmaline durable enough for everyday wear?
Yes. Pink tourmaline ranks 7–7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, so a tourmaline charm is well suited to everyday wear — just store it separately from harder stones to keep it pristine.
October Birthstone: Meaning, Symbolism & How to Wear It
The October birthstone is pink tourmaline — the tender, rosy gem associated with compassion, the heart and gentle love — with opal recognised as October’s traditional alternate. October is one of the months that offers a choice, and at Alya Stone we lead with pink tourmaline for its soft, wearable colour. If you or someone you love has an October birthday, this guide covers what pink tourmaline means, where it comes from, the two star signs it belongs to, and the easiest way to wear it every day.
What is the October birthstone?
October has two birthstones: pink tourmaline (the modern stone, added in the twentieth century) and opal (the older, traditional one). We lead with pink tourmaline because its colour is so easy to live with. Tourmaline is a boron-silicate mineral that comes in the widest colour range of any gem — it is sometimes called the “rainbow gem” — and its pink shades, coloured by manganese, range from the softest blush to a rich raspberry rose. It sits at 7–7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, comfortably suited to everyday jewellery. At Alya Stone we set pink tourmaline in solid 9k recycled gold, never plated, so its gentle pink can be worn and layered for years.
The meaning & symbolism of pink tourmaline
Pink tourmaline is a stone of the heart. Across traditions it has stood for compassion, gentleness, friendship and emotional healing — a soft, reassuring gem associated with unconditional love and a calm, open heart. Tourmaline as a whole was long believed to inspire creativity and artistry, but it is the rosy pink variety that carries the warmest symbolism: tenderness, kindness, and love freely given. That makes a pink tourmaline charm a quietly meaningful way to mark a close friendship, a new chapter, or simply someone you hold dear.
A short history of tourmaline
Tourmaline’s name comes from the Sinhalese turamali, meaning “stone of mixed colours” — a nod to how often it was found in many shades at once and, historically, mistaken for other gems. For centuries pink and red tourmalines were confused with rubies; one of the most famous examples, the “Caesar’s Ruby” pendant, is now believed to be a rubellite (red) tourmaline. Dutch traders brought tourmaline to Europe from Sri Lanka in the 1700s, and in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries California and Brazil became celebrated sources of fine pink stones. Today Brazil, Africa and the United States all produce the rosy tourmaline October is known for.
October birthstone by star sign
October spans two zodiac signs, and pink tourmaline’s warm, heart-centred symbolism suits both:
How to wear & gift the October birthstone
The simplest way to wear a birthstone today is as a charm you can add to a necklace and keep close. Our Curation Suite is built for exactly that: choose a chain, then clip on the charms that mean something to you. A pink tourmaline charm makes a tender October birthday gift, a flattering everyday rose that suits warm and cool tones alike, or one stone in a growing family-birthstone necklace where each loved one gets their month.
Two ways to wear October at Alya Stone — the vintage-inspired Aster October Pink Tourmaline Charm with its ribbed-frame setting, or the pavé-set Ellis October Pink Tourmaline Charm. Both are made to order in solid 9k gold.
Browse every month in the Birthstones collection, or read the full Birthstones by Month guide. Looking back along the calendar: the September birthstone, sapphire. Looking ahead: the November birthstone, citrine.
October birthstone FAQ
What is the October birthstone?
October has two birthstones: pink tourmaline (the modern stone) and opal (the traditional one). At Alya Stone we lead with pink tourmaline for its soft, wearable rosy colour.
What does pink tourmaline symbolise?
Pink tourmaline is a stone of the heart, symbolising compassion, gentleness, friendship and emotional healing. Its rosy colour is associated with tenderness and unconditional love.
Why does October have two birthstones?
Birthstone lists evolved over time. Opal is October’s older, traditional stone, while pink tourmaline was added in the twentieth century. Both are legitimate — choose by colour or meaning.
What is the October birthstone for Libra and Scorpio?
Pink tourmaline is shared by both October signs. Its gentle, loving symbolism suits gracious Libra, while its themes of emotional healing resonate with deep-feeling Scorpio.
Is pink tourmaline durable enough for everyday wear?
Yes. Pink tourmaline ranks 7–7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, so a tourmaline charm is well suited to everyday wear — just store it separately from harder stones to keep it pristine.