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Birthstones

July birthstone: the ruby

By the Merrylet teamUpdated

The July birthstone is the ruby. Its name comes from the Latin ruber, red, the color of love and passion. The finest rubies are a deep red with a hint of purple, called “pigeon’s blood”.

Plate VIIJulyA painted red ruby, the July birthstone
Ruby

The ruby at a glance

Ruby

Corundum

Love, passion, power and youthful energy

Colors
Red, finest with a hint of purple
Hardness
9 on the Mohs scale
Anniversary
15th and 40th
ZodiacCancer, then Leo from July 23
Name fromLatin ruber, red

What does ruby mean?

Ruby stands for love and passion, the meaning of its red. In ancient India it was a symbol of power and youthful energy.

Old beliefs went further. Burmese warriors believed a ruby made them invincible in battle, and medieval Europeans believed rubies brought health, wisdom, wealth and success in love.

King of precious stones

What ancient India called the ruby, for its rarity, hardness and beauty.

What color is the July birthstone?

Red. The finest rubies are a deep red with a hint of purple, a color the trade calls “pigeon’s blood”.

Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, and its red comes from traces of chromium. The more chromium, the stronger the red.

Many rubies are heat treated to clear away purplish tones and leave a purer red. The trade accepts it, but always ask whether a ruby has been treated, and how.

Where do rubies come from?

Myanmar is one of the oldest recorded sources of fine rubies. Its Mogok area, a place of weathered marble and old Buddhist temples, is known for vibrant reds with a glowing red fluorescence.

Vietnam has been an important source since the late 20th century, and the Montepuez mines in Mozambique now yield rubies compared to Mogok’s. Rubies also come from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar, among others.

500+ yearsHow long Mogok, in Myanmar, has produced some of the most sought-after rubies in the world.

How to care for a ruby

Ruby is 9 on the Mohs scale, second in hardness only to diamond, so it is a durable stone for a ring worn every day.

Most rubies can be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a soft brush. If a ruby is glass-filled or dyed, use only a damp cloth.

July’s birth flowers: larkspur and water lilyWhat they mean, and how to send it →
Give them their stone

A birthday card as warm as a ruby

The Locket birthday card

The Locket birthday card plays on their phone: an antique gold locket lies closed on old lace, in candlelight. They tap the clasp, the lid swings open, pressed petals drift out, and inside is a painted miniature of them, made from a photo you add, that comes alive and meets their eyes. Add their name and a few words, send it by text, and they just tap the link.

Something to write inside
  • Red is the color of love. Happy birthday, with all of mine.
  • A ruby for you, the king of precious stones. It suits you.
  • Here’s to a year as bright and bold as your birthstone.
See the card play, then sendAll birthday cards

Watch the card before you write a word. Your first greeting card is free.

July birthstone questions

What is the July birthstone?
The July birthstone is the ruby, a red variety of the mineral corundum. Its name comes from the Latin ruber, meaning red, the color of love and passion.
What does ruby mean?
Ruby stands for love and passion. In ancient India it was called the “king of precious stones” and was a symbol of power and youthful energy, and medieval Europeans believed it brought wisdom, wealth and success in love.
What is the best color for a ruby?
The most prized ruby is a deep red with a hint of purple, called “pigeon’s blood” in the trade. Ruby gets its red from chromium: the more chromium, the stronger the red.
What anniversary is ruby for?
Ruby is traditionally given for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.
What is the July birth flower?
July has two birth flowers: the larkspur and the water lily. People born in July are Cancer until July 22 and Leo from July 23.

Birthstones for every month

← June: pearl, alexandrite and moonstoneAugust: peridot, spinel and sardonyx →

All birthstones, month by month

Sources