October Birthstones-Pink
Tourmaline and Rose Zircon
Pink Tourmaline
The
light red to pink
tourmaline is the
birthstone for the month of October and the gemstone representing the 8th
wedding anniversary. It was once believed that it protects the wearer against
bad decisions, many dangers, and misfortune. It is also known to attract friends
and lovers. Tourmaline is a silicate of very complicated composition, is very
brittle with most crystals penetrated by numerous irregular cracks and
fissures. It varies in transparency and color to a considerable extent, with
perfectly clear and faultless specimens being rare and commanding a high price.
It is found around the world, from the Ural mountains (where on account of its
resemblance to ruby it is known as Siberian Ruby), to Brazil (the principal
locality for green tourmaline), to the more common pale rose-red or dark carmine
color red found both in Burma and in Maine in the United States.
Rose Zircon
The
brighter deeper rose colored Rose Zircon offers an alternative to tourmaline in
both price and perfection of crystalline structure. Zircon is a compound of
oxides of silicon and zirconium, is fairly hard so as be faceted and polished to
a brilliant luster, and has better clarity and fewer fissures or inclusions than
tourmaline. Zircon is more strongly refracting than any other precious stone
with the exception of diamond. So brilliant are the colorless or pale-colored
hyacinth Zircons, that such stones found at Matura in Ceylon in the eighteenth
century were know as "Matura Diamonds". Most Zircons are heated to change or
enhance their color. Attractive Rose Zircon is available in a faint pink
to a dark rose hue.
