July Birthstone

Those of you who were born in July will be pleased to know that ruby is your birthstone. Without a doubt one of the most coveted and beautiful gemstones in the world, the name ruby is derived from the Latin word ‘ruber’ which, as you might have guessed, means red!

Red is the color of passion and love, and few things are able to catch the eye quite like a bright, sparkling ruby in a pair of drop earrings or a ruby and diamond ring. In terms of the ‘ideal’, the very finest rubies are those that are deep, deep red with a slight hint of purple, and these are known as ‘pigeon’s blood’ within the gem trade.

If you want to know more about the stone from a scientific point of view, then ruby is the red form of corundum (sapphire is the blue form) which is aluminum oxide in crystal form.

If you are interested in learning more about your July birthstone and what kind of fine jewelry it might work best with, then keep reading for a comprehensive guide to July birthstone jewelry.

The History Of The Ruby And Its Association with July

The history of the ruby can be traced back to India, where it was commonly referred to as the ‘king of precious stones’. This nickname arose due to the rarity and hardness, beauty, and supposed mystical powers that the gem possessed. The hardness of ruby on the Mohs Scale is 9 - diamond, the world’s hardest substance, is 10.

The red ruby has long been associated with blood as a representation of life force, as well as being a symbol of youth and power. For centuries gone by, it was believed that rubies had the power of foretelling danger or misfortune, as well as having the ability to soothe anger and even cure inflammatory diseases.

Ancient Indian and Burmese warriors wore rubies in battle because they believed that they would make them invincible. They’d wear them as adornments in their turbans, on their sword pommels, and as ruby earrings or ruby necklaces. Outside of the Sub-continent, some Europeans during the medieval period believed that rubies bestowed wisdom, health, success, and wealth to anybody who wore them. If you believe all of this and are born in July, then you definitely have a lot to look forward to with your gemstone jewelry!

Where Are Rubies Found?

The oldest known rubies can be traced back to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). For more than 500 years, the Mogul region of Myanmar produced the most sought-after rubies in the world, which were vibrant red stones that were softened by light scattering inclusions and a striking red fluorescence.

In more recent times, Vietnam has become one of the more prominent sources of ruby gemstones in the world. The Luc Yen region in the north of the country produces the best colors for ruby birthstone jewelry, from a deep red to purple.

Other prominent producers of rubies for everything from ruby earrings to birthstone rings to heart pendants and everything in between includes Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Kenya, and Madagascar.

How Do You Take Care Of Ruby Pendants And Other Jewelry?

The process for cleaning rubies to keep them in the best condition possible is a fairly simple one, Whether your piece in question is stud earrings or a simple bangle bracelet, the cleaning process remains the same.

In the majority of cases, you can clean something like a July birthstone necklace using warm soapy water and a very soft brush to make sure that all of the intricate parts including links, bezel, and clasps are completely cleaned.

Some people like to use steam and/or ultrasonic cleaners on their birthstone pendants and ruby bolo bracelet and this is also safe for stones that are untreated and heat-treated, as well as lattice diffusion-treated stones.

July Birthstone Gift Ideas

So, now that you know what rubies are, where they came from, and that they are the gemstone assigned to the month of July in both the modern and traditional birthstone charts, it’s time to get to the real fun of the matter. And by that, of course, we mean browsing and shopping for gorgeous ruby jewelry!

When it comes to events and occasions that make for ideal birthstone-themed gift giving or simply treating yourself, the possibilities are virtually endless! If you were to ask jewelry retailers around the world what their best-sellers are, we can guarantee they‘ll say many consumers look for gemstone jewelry with a birthstone significance.

While the ruby is for July, every other month has its birthstone and these include other gorgeous gems like amethyst, aquamarine, topaz, garnet, and peridot. And like some of these other gemstones - diamonds in particular - rubies can be natural stones and also be created in the lab. Lab-created rubies are as equally stunning as mined stones and only a trained eye can spot a real gem from a synthetic gem (of course, your jeweler will always tell you the origin of the gems in those ruby hoop earrings you have your eye on.)

Here are some ideas for occasions where you might want to gift July birthstone jewelry.

Birthday

Sometimes the most obvious ideas are the best ones! That is certainly the case here because birthdays and birthstones are clearly a match made in heaven. The best birthday gifts are the ones that have the extra special personal touch, and giving somebody who was born in July a piece of jewelry adorned with a ruby means that you have put extra thought into the present.

It is also just a really simple theme to follow for a birthday gift, and the great thing about rubies, in particular, is that they complement any and all skin tones beautifully.

Anniversary

There is, of course, a separate chart that reveals different materials for wedding anniversary years, but who says you have to be traditional and follow those? If you want to think outside of the most and gift your spouse some jewelry that relates to their birth month instead, then go right ahead!

A nice benefit of rubies, in particular, is that they work well with all the precious metals used in fine jewelry (yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum, and sterling silver) which means a huge variety and choice of ruby jewelry.

Graduation

Graduating from college is a huge milestone in anybody’s life and an occasion that is definitely included in the ‘day gifts’ canon. A simple tennis bracelet, pendant or pair of ruby dangle earrings can make for a sweet and memorable gift to celebrate a big achievement in that person’s life. Maybe the biggest achievement in their life up to that point. When you put it that way, it definitely becomes an occasion to celebrate with a piece of jewelry featuring a July birthstone of a weighty carat or two!

Gift For A Newborn Baby

Gifting a newborn baby an item of jewelry that features their birthstone is something that has been a long-standing tradition. We’re not talking about ‘baby jewelry’, of course, but rather something like a birthstone bracelet or pendant that can be stored in safe keeping to present to the child when they have grown to the age for wearing jewelry.

When you buy birthstone jewelry to coincide with the actual month of a person’s birth, it creates a strong and meaningful bond than getting them something similar at a random stage in their teen years or adulthood.

Engagement

For so long, diamonds and diamond simulants like cubic zirconia have been the choice for engagement rings. For people who want a mix, it’s most often diamonds and blue sapphire but for something different, and when your fiance has a July birthday, a ruby engagement ring is as equally fabulous.

There are plenty of amazing ruby rings that would make for fantastic engagement rings, and the birthday connection makes the ring even more special and personal to both of you. A ruby (or ruby and diamond) engagement ring is sure going to make a statement. Rubies as a birthstone are an equally good choice if you want to present your beau with a promise ring.

Father’s Day - Jewelry Is For Men Too!

Who says that jewelry should only be bought for women? Not us, that’s for sure! There are plenty of great options for men from masculine bracelets to single studs for ears to tie pins and everything in between, and if your own father is somebody who likes to showcase a little bit of bling and flashiness in his personal style, then give him something with meaning in the form of his July birthstone.

Relating specifically to July and the ruby, red is the perfect unisex color when it comes to jewelry that suits both men and women alike, so you shouldn't have too much of an issue finding ruby pieces that are ideal for Father’s Day!

The examples we have shown above are just a few of the stunning pieces of fashion and fine jewelry featuring rubies we sell at Frank Jewelers. Click here to browse our full range of ruby jewelry. If you prefer, you can schedule a face-to-face or online consultation where we will happily advise you on picking the perfect ruby birthstone gift.