The July Birthstone: Radiant Red Rubies
The dazzling red ruby is one of the most sought-after gems in the world.
With a hardness that's second only to the diamond, thisJuly birthstone has been prized for centuries by kings and commoners alike. It derives its name from the Latin rubeus—which means "reddish in color," which is an apt name for this gemstone representing passion and love.
July is a warm and stormy month, epitomizing the ruby birthstone perfectly. Let's take a look at the July birthstone meaning and origin, along with its strange and secret history.
The Red Ruby - Its Ancient Origins
Rubies are actually a kind of corundum—an aluminum oxide mineral. It's not the only corundum gemstone. Along with sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, and diamonds, rubies belong to the elite club of cardinal gems. The distinctive crimson color of rubies is actually imparted by the presence of the element chromium. This is the same material that's used in decorative vehicle plating.
Second only to diamonds and moissanite in hardness, rubies rate a 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. The finest rubies are known as "pigeon's blood" rubies, presenting a rich, deep red with shades of purple, just like the blood of a pigeon.
Rubies are actually a kind of corundum—an aluminum oxide mineral. It's not the only corundum gemstone. Along with sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, and diamonds, rubies belong to the elite club of cardinal gems. The distinctive crimson color of rubies is actually imparted by the presence of the element chromium. This is the same material that's used in decorative vehicle plating.
Second only to diamonds and moissanite in hardness, rubies rate a 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. The finest rubies are known as "pigeon's blood" rubies, presenting a rich, deep red with shades of purple, just like the blood of a pigeon.
Sources of Ruby Gemstones
Historically, red ruby jewelry was derived from deposits in Central and Southeast Asia.
The major ancient sources of rubies were Afghanistan, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Burmese rubies are the most coveted and expensive because their high chromium content imparts a lush, deep crimson color to these precious stones.
India, Vietnam, Japan, and even Tanzania and Madagascar also have important ruby deposits. The dramatic, jungle-strewn landscape of Luc Yen in northern Vietnam has yielded many high-quality rubies. The Madagascan rubies vary widely in color, and the rubies of northern Macedonia in Europe feature a light, raspberry shade that is highly prized.
Historically, red ruby jewelry was derived from deposits in Central and Southeast Asia.
The major ancient sources of rubies were Afghanistan, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Burmese rubies are the most coveted and expensive because their high chromium content imparts a lush, deep crimson color to these precious stones.
India, Vietnam, Japan, and even Tanzania and Madagascar also have important ruby deposits. The dramatic, jungle-strewn landscape of Luc Yen in northern Vietnam has yielded many high-quality rubies. The Madagascan rubies vary widely in color, and the rubies of northern Macedonia in Europe feature a light, raspberry shade that is highly prized.
Historically, red ruby jewelry was derived from deposits in Central and Southeast Asia.
The major ancient sources of rubies were Afghanistan, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Burmese rubies are the most coveted and expensive because their high chromium content imparts a lush, deep crimson color to these precious stones.
India, Vietnam, Japan, and even Tanzania and Madagascar also have important ruby deposits. The dramatic, jungle-strewn landscape of Luc Yen in northern Vietnam has yielded many high-quality rubies. The Madagascan rubies vary widely in color, and the rubies of northern Macedonia in Europe feature a light, raspberry shade that is highly prized.
Ruby Birthstone Meaning and History
The secondary birthstones for July—onyx and turquoise, are of course beautiful in their own right. But, when your birthstone is a ruby, the "king of gems," these lesser stones pale in comparison.
With its vivid red color, it's not hard to understand why rubies have become associated with power and passion, and have come to be the preserve of the highest echelons of society.
Rubies are the gemstones of kings and emperors, for they share the color of life-blood and are thus imbued with the essence of power and empery. Furthermore, the lurid shade of rubies means that they are forever associated with love and all the stormy passions that come with it.
The secondary birthstones for July—onyx and turquoise, are of course beautiful in their own right. But, when your birthstone is a ruby, the "king of gems," these lesser stones pale in comparison.
With its vivid red color, it's not hard to understand why rubies have become associated with power and passion, and have come to be the preserve of the highest echelons of society.
Rubies are the gemstones of kings and emperors, for they share the color of life-blood and are thus imbued with the essence of power and empery. Furthermore, the lurid shade of rubies means that they are forever associated with love and all the stormy passions that come with it.
The History of Rubies
Rubies have been traded along the ancient Silk Road from China to the West since at least the Third Century BC.
The July birthstone has also been much prized in Asia, to the point where warriors embedded the precious stones in their armor and sometimes even in their flesh. The Romans called rubies carbunculi ("red-hot coals"), which, according to Pliny the Elder, was from their likeness to fire. They were also called acaustae, "incombustible," because they were allegedly impervious to that element.
Among historic and record-breaking rubies are:
- The Liberty Bell Ruby is a sculpture of the eponymous bell chiseled from the largest ruby ever mined, and weighed four pounds. It was stolen in a heist in 2011.
- The Sunrise Ruby is the world's most expensive ruby birthstone ring, a pigeon blood Burmese ruby set between white diamonds. It was sold in 2015 for a whopping $30 million.
- Among the many fine rubies in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is the Rosser Reeves Ruby. This alliteratively named gemstone is a magnificent, six-rayed Sri Lankan red ruby with a carat rating of 138.72.
- The first optical laser was powered by a synthetic ruby in 1961.
Rubies have been traded along the ancient Silk Road from China to the West since at least the Third Century BC.
The July birthstone has also been much prized in Asia, to the point where warriors embedded the precious stones in their armor and sometimes even in their flesh. The Romans called rubies carbunculi ("red-hot coals"), which, according to Pliny the Elder, was from their likeness to fire. They were also called acaustae, "incombustible," because they were allegedly impervious to that element.
Among historic and record-breaking rubies are:
- The Liberty Bell Ruby is a sculpture of the eponymous bell chiseled from the largest ruby ever mined, and weighed four pounds. It was stolen in a heist in 2011.
- The Sunrise Ruby is the world's most expensive ruby birthstone ring, a pigeon blood Burmese ruby set between white diamonds. It was sold in 2015 for a whopping $30 million.
- Among the many fine rubies in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is the Rosser Reeves Ruby. This alliteratively named gemstone is a magnificent, six-rayed Sri Lankan red ruby with a carat rating of 138.72.
- The first optical laser was powered by a synthetic ruby in 1961.
Rubies have been traded along the ancient Silk Road from China to the West since at least the Third Century BC.
The July birthstone has also been much prized in Asia, to the point where warriors embedded the precious stones in their armor and sometimes even in their flesh. The Romans called rubies carbunculi ("red-hot coals"), which, according to Pliny the Elder, was from their likeness to fire. They were also called acaustae, "incombustible," because they were allegedly impervious to that element.
Among historic and record-breaking rubies are:
- The Liberty Bell Ruby is a sculpture of the eponymous bell chiseled from the largest ruby ever mined, and weighed four pounds. It was stolen in a heist in 2011.
- The Sunrise Ruby is the world's most expensive ruby birthstone ring, a pigeon blood Burmese ruby set between white diamonds. It was sold in 2015 for a whopping $30 million.
- Among the many fine rubies in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is the Rosser Reeves Ruby. This alliteratively named gemstone is a magnificent, six-rayed Sri Lankan red ruby with a carat rating of 138.72.
- The first optical laser was powered by a synthetic ruby in 1961.
The Meaning of the Ruby Birthstone
If July is your birth month, and you have a penchant for wearing ruby jewelry, then you can look forward to a number of additional benefits.
Here are some of the salubrious side effects of adorning yourself with this birthstone:
- Rubies tend to suffuse the wearer with power, energy, and vitality
- Ruby jewelry can help boost confidence and courage in the wearer
- Since time immemorial, rubies have been employed for their curative powers; they are believed to cure various conditions, such as high blood pressure and jaundice, and can improve mental health
- They are the perfect power jewelry for those contemplating entering politics—rubies are the fashion accessory of choice for aspiring megalomaniacs
- They can improve your love life, which makes them great for wedding rings
If July is your birth month, and you have a penchant for wearing ruby jewelry, then you can look forward to a number of additional benefits.
Here are some of the salubrious side effects of adorning yourself with this birthstone:
- Rubies tend to suffuse the wearer with power, energy, and vitality
- Ruby jewelry can help boost confidence and courage in the wearer
- Since time immemorial, rubies have been employed for their curative powers; they are believed to cure various conditions, such as high blood pressure and jaundice, and can improve mental health
- They are the perfect power jewelry for those contemplating entering politics—rubies are the fashion accessory of choice for aspiring megalomaniacs
- They can improve your love life, which makes them great for wedding rings
Ruby Birthstone Rings
Rubies are among the rarest and most precious of precious stones.
At Patrick Adair Designs, we offer classic and understated men's rings, like the Black Zirconium Infinity ring. It consists of a Black Zirconium band, studded with six gemstones—including a red round ruby.
If the Infinity Ring is not quite your style, consider crafting your very own Custom Glowstone Ring with a ruby filled inlay!
Rubies are among the rarest and most precious of precious stones.
At Patrick Adair Designs, we offer classic and understated men's rings, like the Black Zirconium Infinity ring. It consists of a Black Zirconium band, studded with six gemstones—including a red round ruby.
If the Infinity Ring is not quite your style, consider crafting your very own Custom Glowstone Ring with a ruby filled inlay!
Rubies are among the rarest and most precious of precious stones.
At Patrick Adair Designs, we offer classic and understated men's rings, like the Black Zirconium Infinity ring. It consists of a Black Zirconium band, studded with six gemstones—including a red round ruby.
If the Infinity Ring is not quite your style, consider crafting your very own Custom Glowstone Ring with a ruby filled inlay!