<p>October is one of only three months with two official birthstones: opal and pink tourmaline. Our October birthstone jewelry is made in both, so you can choose the stone that suits the wearer rather than settle for whichever one a shop happens to stock. Every piece is an original design by Jennifer Derrig, imported directly from Ireland, which means an October birthday gift carries Irish heritage as well as a birth month.</p>
<p>Opal is the traditional October birthstone and the one most people picture. It is hydrated silica, and the shifting flashes of colour across its surface come from light diffracting through microscopic spheres inside the stone. Because opal rates 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and holds water within its structure, it rewards a little care, which is why our opal pieces are set protectively. Pink tourmaline, added to the modern birthstone list in 1952, rates 7 to 7.5 and stands up to daily wear, making it the practical choice for
