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The July Birthstone – The Complete Guide

The July Birthstone – The Complete Guide

One of the most esteemed stones in the gemstone world is the July Birthstone, which is Ruby.

It’s a traditional gemstone for July in most cultures around the world. Read on and find out what makes this beautiful stone exceptional!

The red July birthstone, Ruby, has long been accorded a high position in the order of gems by the ancient Hindus.

Its name is the ‘King of Gems,’ a tribute to its blood-red intensity, believed to protect the wearer from evil. It also signifies love and intense passion.

Apart from the ancient Hindus, tribes in other parts of the world were also intrigued by this stone, and its deep red color was identified with war and victory.

Attributes of the Ruby are harmony, contentment, integrity, strength, protection from Evil, and success.

This Ruby birthstone meaning seems universal, no matter where in the world you look.

Even when so many cultures of the world have so many different myths and legends, the meaning of Rubies seems pretty universal.

It seems the stone speaks to us on a primal level and awakens our subconscious to the truth of its nature. As such, it’s impossible not to feel inspired by this gemstone!

In the days of Yore, Rubies were worn by kings, warrior chiefs, and political rulers as it was believed to strengthen their leadership skills and their decision-making.

The belief has evolved through the ages, and today the stone is believed to aid wearers in making important life decisions, particularly financial ones.

The Ruby birthstone was often used for passion, protection, and power in the Hindu culture.

Ruby was also believed to have curative properties and was used to improve blood circulation.

The belief entails, however, that one must not wear a Ruby anywhere close to the solar plexus as the stone has adverse effects on this area.

This blood-red stone represents courage, leadership, confidence, vitality, and strength. It’s also associated with love and passion. It brings success in life, especially with love and romance.

The word Ruby has its origin in the Latin language, and it means red. Several centuries ago, people were unaware of today’s scientific classification of minerals, and the Ruby category had to include many other mineral types, including Spinel, Garnet, and Red Tourmaline.

The chemical composition of Ruby is aluminum oxide. This is the well-known corundum family, which has two most distinguished members: Ruby and Sapphire.

Only red corundum specimens are called Rubies. All the other colors, including black, purple, yellow, brown, green, and blue are Sapphires.

Myanmar is the country of origin of the most valuable and delicate Rubies with a color that looks like pigeon blood.

Thailand is another famous location for quality Rubies.

During ancient times, legends also told that Ruby was a self-radiant stone that possessed the essence of life in the form of a drop of Mother Earth’s blood.

The ancient people of the Orient also believed that Rubies were ripe Sapphires. When Sapphires were buried in the ground and the required length of time had already passed, they would become Rubies.

A popular belief from the Middle Ages was that Rubies could turn their color to darker red or brown as a warning sign of forthcoming problems and bad luck.

This would give their owners enough time to prepare for the impending misfortune.

Rubies can increase stamina and mental strength, as well as boost courage. They can also eliminate fatigue and depression.

They can also awaken passion, including sexual stamina and passion for life, new experiences, and new ideas.

And they stimulate your motivation and creativity and make you truthful while you follow your goals.

Rubies are great stones when you are feeling inert and locked up, and unable to make a move toward fulfilling your life goals. Rubies can help you rise and move forward with their light and refreshing energy.

Ruby is related to the heart’s energy center but can also stimulate the pineal gland.

It can help blood circulation and blood vessels.

The chromium that gives this gemstone its red color also causes its fluorescence. It’s the thing that makes Rubies glow like a fire from the inside.

Ironically, chromium also makes this gem scarce because it can cause cracks and fissures.

Very few Ruby stones grow big enough to crystallize into fine and high-quality gems, and these can bring even loftier prices than Diamonds.

Durable and tough, Ruby hits a 9 on the Mohs scale. Diamond is the only natural gemstone that’s harder than Ruby.

Ruby’s strength and red fluorescence make it valuable for applications beyond jewelry. Natural and synthetic Rubies are used to make watches, lasers, and medical instruments.

Because of its deep red color, Ruby has long been associated with the life force and vitality of the blood.

This stone can magnify energies, enhance awareness, build courage, and attract success in wealth, love, and battle.

Ruby is a present for a 15th, 40th, and 80th wedding anniversary.

What Are The Key Traits Of The July Birthstone?

July-born people can benefit from wearing red Rubies. Like red Garnet, the birthstone of January, Ruby represents the courage and strength of the wearer.

Additionally, this birthstone can bring about good luck and good friends. One of the many properties of this birthstone includes emotional support for whoever wears it.

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You might think bright red Rubies signify lust, passion, and quick tempers. But this stone is a token of peace and harmony, and those born under it tend to be calm and level-headed people.

They are also vibrant, confident, and determined. They will always go the distance to make their dreams come true. As a result, they attract good luck and good friends.

Ruby people are also very devoted, faithful, and loving.

They prefer being in a settled long-term relationship with someone they can trust.

This July birthstone meaning perhaps explains why Rubies are such a symbol of long-lasting romance.

After all, this precious gem is not only given as a token of love and affection but also presented to couples in many traditions when they reach certain landmark anniversaries in their marriages.

The rich red of Ruby can’t help but inspire feelings of passion and affection, so it’s little wonder that the people born within its influence can’t help but feel inspired to form long-lasting bonds of love with others.

If Ruby is your birthstone, it signifies you are someone adventurous, spontaneous, and fun-loving. You tend to hide your feelings, but you are an emotional person who cares deeply for others.

You have a talent for defusing conflict with your upbeat personality and never have a dull moment and are always fun to be around.

Ruby people can be secretive but open up once they trust someone. But it takes quite a while before you can truly trust people.

But getting to know someone born with this birthstone is worth it.

There are moments when you are difficult to understand because you get lost in your thoughts. But you are always witty, sparkly, and honest.

Wherever you go, you easily make friends because of your warm, loving, friendly, and caring personality. You have a strong sense of sympathy, and you are very concerned about other people’s feelings.

Ruby people can be moody, emotional, temperamental, and unpredictable. You can get hurt easily. But you are never vengeful. You can easily forgive, but you find it hard to forget.

Ruby people are also very approachable, and people want to work with them all the time because they treat others equally.

Ruby people are very homely. They like to be quiet and alone and never are aggressive unless provoked.

They love the feeling of being loved, and they value the people in their life and will make sure that they get to spend time with them

Taking pride in themselves, they also help others achieve their goals by sharing their knowledge.

They can be wary or sharp sometimes, but they are always tactful and sensitive to other people’s feelings.

Ruby people work hard for what they want, which is why they don’t like nonsensical and unnecessary things.

The Color Of The July Birthstone And Its Meaning

The crowns of monarchs and regents of every culture across the centuries have often seen this jewel in pride of place in their crowns and regalia.

Being a precious gem does nothing to diminish how much this jewel can promote a healthy body and mind. And it’s especially helpful for the heart and the bloodstream.

Ruby has many healing properties. The stone is associated with the sun and was believed by the ancients to preserve an individual’s physical and mental health.

In the Middle Ages, Rubies were thought to possess prophetic powers, their colors darkening when there was imminent danger.

Ivan the Terrible, a Russian despot, believed that Ruby was good for the heart, brain, and memory.

Sources reveal a thirteenth-century prescription to cure liver problems with powered Ruby.

Rubies can purge the body of toxins and restore youth and vitality when rubbed on the skin.

On a physical level, Rubies can energize and bring balance to the body. They can stimulate the heart chakra and stir your passion for life.

On an emotional level, Ruby can encourage whoever wears it to accomplish goals, gain leadership skills, and acquire wealth.

There are also a lot of people who believe that Ruby is the stone of love and passion that will enhance sexual activity.

Necklaces, Rings, And Jewelry

Whether you’re showing your love for someone born in July, or celebrating a 15th or 40th wedding anniversary, there’s no better gift than a Ruby.

Popular since ancient times, these precious gemstones can awaken the senses, amplify positive energies, and guarantee health, wisdom, wealth, and success in love.

The most important quality of a Ruby is its beautiful red color. As previously said, other hues of this specific gemstone species are considered Sapphire.

The finest Ruby is a vibrant purplish red, losing value as it leans toward orange, brown, or even pink.

Rubies also require good transparency. Opaque rubies are much less valuable, even if they display a cat’s eye or asterism.

Natural Rubies contain imperfections, like rutile inclusions called “silk.” These can increase the value of Ruby and can often help determine a gem’s authenticity.

The Sunrise Ruby is the world’s most expensive gemstone other than the Diamond.

A 25.6-carat Burmese Pigeon Blood Ruby set between two diamonds weighing 2.5 and 2.7 carats sold at an auction in 2015 for nearly $30 million, setting a new record for price-per-carat.

Lower-quality Rubies are subject to heat treatment to enhance their color saturation and reduce the inclusions, makings these varieties of Rubies more affordable.

Ruby is the perfect way to express your powerful emotions. It’s a meaningful gift to symbolize prosperity, protection, and passion.

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With their vibrant and beautiful red color and impressive hardness that makes them perfect gemstones for everyday wear, Ruby is one of the most valuable stones of the gemstone family.

Ruby is one of the five cardinal gems along with Amethyst, Emerald, Sapphire, and Diamond.

These five gemstones are more valuable than the rest because of their beauty, desirability, and rarity.

When searching for your perfect Ruby stone, it’s important to know about some of Ruby’s unique attributes to develop an idea of what is suitable for you and your lifestyle.

When looking at the color, it is important to regard hue, saturation, and tone.

Hue refers to the general color of the stone. Rubies will always have a dominant hue of red.

Saturation refers to the intensity of the color. This is graded on a scale from 1-6.

If the intensity of the color is low, it will appear as a brown or grayish color (1) while a higher intensity is evident in a vibrant and strong color (6).

Tone points to how light or dark the stone’s color is, with colorless being a 0 and black being a 10 on the grading scale.

A high-quality Ruby will have a dominant hue of red, vivid saturation, and a dark tone.

A Ruby’s clarity points to how light is transmitted through it and anything that prevents the light from being transmitted effectively.

All gemstones host small inclusions. These inclusions can be anything, from tiny gas bubbles, liquids, or trace amounts of minerals that show up as lines or cracks on the stone.

Under a microscope, tiny flaws and natural blemishes will generally be visible, but these are to be expected.

High-quality Rubies will appear clean upon initial inspection, meaning there won’t be visible flaws.

In some cases, inclusions can cause a star-like effect on the Ruby. This is called asterism, caused by intersecting needle-like inclusions in the stone.

The star can appear as a three-pointed or six-pointed star on the stone’s surface and are usually very symmetrical.

Rubies that exhibit asterism must be carefully cut to maximize the star’s appearance.

Usually, they are cut en cabochon. Rubies that have the star effect are in high demand and highly prized because of their rarity.

Most Rubies available in the market today will have undergone some treatment to enhance their color or improve the stone’s clarity, and there are many different treatments.

Heat treatment can promote greater clarity in the stone and remove any rutile that could alter the stone’s color or clarity.

The Ruby is heated to temperatures reaching up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, and this heat livens up the stone’s color.

This treatment does not harm the durability or value of the stone and finds wide acceptance in the market.

Glass-filled Ruby treatment has become more popular in recent times. It can make low-grade Rubies and appear as a higher-grade Ruby.

It’s the bleaching process, filling the cracks or fissures with glass, and then coloring the Ruby that gives it its vivid red color.

While they may appear beautiful, these stones are more likely to break when exposed to heat or chemicals. They are also less valuable.

Flux-healed Rubies involve Rubies coated with a layer of flux material that will protect them from sticking.

The benefits of this process are the ability of this flux material to penetrate the depths of the stone and fill in any cracks and crevices.

It decreases the stone’s value a little because of the insertion of foreign material.

The carat of the stone is directly related to its size. Therefore, the larger the stone, the greater the number of carats.

Rubies with less than 1-2 carats are the most common. Anything larger than this is very rare and would be very pricey.

Due to their vibrant color and elegant look, even small Rubies can provide glamor and class to a piece of jewelry.

If you’re looking for a bigger Ruby, you may consider synthetic Rubies. These are larger than natural Rubies and more cost-effective.

There are endless numbers of cuts that will expertly display the beauty of Ruby. The cut of the stone depends on the preference of the buyer.

You should remember that certain cuts will display light better compared to others. Some cuts will also make the stone look larger.

Some of the best cuts you can make on your stone to reflect light include teardrop, pear, and princess cuts.

The Emerald cut will be more suitable if you like a larger stone and how it looks.

A detail you should also consider is pleochroism or the appearance of different colors in the stone when you look at it from different angles.

In the case of Rubies, this secondary color is often purple or orange. Many expert cutters can customize this pleochroism to blend naturally with the stone’s cut.

Another thing to consider when looking for your idea Ruby is to be aware that most Rubies come to the market already cut in a style custom to the country of origin.

Gemstones can be re-cut if the buyer wants them re-cut, but this can also cause a loss in carat and size.

If you are very specific about the cut you prefer, this could limit the various Rubies available to you.

Natural Rubies usually come in small sizes. A large Ruby pendant, for instance, would be nearly impossible to find, not to mention very expensive.

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Therefore, it would be more logical to find a piece that uniquely uses Rubies, like smaller Rubies elegantly arranged in a necklace, or Rubies mixed with Diamonds in a pair of earrings.

It’s important to know that imitation Rubies are also on the market.

There have been numerous instances when substances like glass or quartz were dyed to create a vivid red color to fool unwitting buyers into purchasing.

To be sure you are purchasing an authentic piece, it is always best to consult a jeweler or gemologist who will determine the authenticity of your stone.

If you want to be on the safe side, purchase your stone from a registered jeweler instead of an unknown online source. Obtain a certificate of appraisal.

Synthetic Ruby is a great, cost-efficient option. It has the same chemical structure as a naturally occurring Ruby, the only difference being that it was created in a lab by humans.

Do take note that these are not fake Rubies. They are almost the same as naturally occurring Rubies.

The only difference is that synthetic Rubies will be flawless compared to natural stones, which will have microscopic flaws and blemishes.

They are a great alternative when shopping for Rubies on a budget.

Rubies are relatively easy to maintain, and you can do it right in your home using only mild soap, a soft bristle brush, and a soft, dry rag.

Using lukewarm water, add the mild soap. You can use baby soap for this and a small soft bristle brush. Gently scrub the stone clean.

When you feel your stone is sufficiently clean, use the soft, dry rag to wipe the stone off. Dry your stone thoroughly after washing it because residual water can damage the setting and the stone.

Store your Rubies away from other stones. A Ruby has a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the hardest gemstones.

This means your stones can shift and scratch another stone when you shuffle, open, or close your jewelry box.

Keep your Ruby in its compartment, pouch, or box to protect it from damage and scratches by your other stones.

You can buy Rubies online or in person. Shopping online will give you more options without feeling rushed or pressured and allow you to browse based on your price range and style.

Shopping in person will allow you to try various pieces and get a close-up look at a particular piece before investing in it.

It will also allow you to ask questions from a jeweler or gemologist to ensure that you get a quality piece. The best practice is to shop both online and in-person to receive the benefits of both options.

Be sure to do your research and shop around. Set a price range and decide on your budget.

Also, be open to discovering all the many things that you can about and all things that you can do with your Ruby gemstone.

Investing in your Ruby jewelry may sound daunting and seem like a big commitment, but its undeniable beauty and elegance is truly worth the time and money.

My Final Thoughts on the July Birthstone

The Ruby is a leadership stone that brings adventure to the person who wears it.

This bright red stone is about confidence as it promotes courage and strength, leading to prosperity.

Aside from this stone’s highly motivating and uplifting energies, it can also protect you against nightmares.

With all the courageous symbolism that Ruby brings, it’s no wonder this deep red stone represents the brave and the bold!

Ruby is the stone of love, passion, power, and energy. It promotes a zest for life in whoever wears it.

Blood is another important element, believed to feature in the stone besides fire. It’s tied to one’s life force, a stone that increases energy and vigor.

The July birthstone is one of the world’s four precious stones. It’s a gemstone with strong ties to earthy qualities, power, and ambition in men.

Red Rubies are tokens of harmony and peace. They signify nobility and strength.

Traditionally, Ruby has been regarded by ancient Hindus as the “king of gems.” It was believed to protect its wearer from evil.

Ruby’s deep red color signifies love and passion. It’s associated with harmony, protection, enthusiasm, contentment, success, integrity, and strength.

Ruby encourages the removal of negative energies from your path. It helps you overcome lethargy and exhaustion and imparts vigor and potency.

Also, Ruby detoxifies the body, blood, and lymphatic system. It can also break fevers and treat other infectious diseases, even restricted blood flow. Ruby also stimulates the adrenals, kidneys, reproductive organs, and spleen.

The July birthstone is the king of gems. It signifies wisdom, health, and love.

It is believed that wearing a beautiful piece of Ruby attracts good fortune to its owner. It’s the most valuable gemstone, and its value increases based on its color and quality.

July Birthstone

About the author

Diana Houston

Diana Houston is a respected crystal expert and the author of 'A Beginner's Guide to Healing Crystals: Getting Started With Crystal Healing – A Complete Guide.' Her passion for crystals and their healing properties made her a leading authority on the subject.

Diana's expertise and passion for crystals have inspired countless readers and practitioners, and her book has received rave reviews on Amazon. With her clear and insightful guidance, Diana is a trusted guide for anyone seeking to unlock the transformative power of crystals.

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