Those born in July are graced with the radiant ruby as their July birthstone. Rubies are bold red, durable gemstones that match July’s associations with light, fun, and contentment.
July was named in 44 BC after someone born in July: Julius Caesar. Previously, ancient Romans called the month Quintilis, meaning “fifth,” when March started the year.
Ancients believed July was overseen by the king of gods and sky god, Jupiter (Zeus in Greek myths). The sun god Apollo was also a prominent feature of July events.
Besides the sun, another star associated with July is Sirius, the brightest star. Also called the “Dog Star,” Sirius’s rise and fall over the horizon in July and August has been nicknamed the “dog days of summer.”
Now that you know what your birth month is all about, it’s time to learn about your birthstone. Today, we’ll go over all of the July birthstone’s history, meanings, powers, and value factors, along with some alternative stones to choose from.
The radiant red ruby is the traditional July birthstone. This precious gemstone is also the traditional 15th, 40th, and 80th wedding anniversary stone.
The name “ruby” comes from the Latin rubeus, meaning “red,” for pretty obvious reasons.
The July birthstone ruby’s history stretches way back, with lore dating back to ancient times.
The oldest known ruby is a 2.5 billion-year-old specimen from Greenland discovered in 2021. But much of ruby’s early history lies in south and southeast Asia, specifically Burma (now Myanmar) and India.
Rubies were likely mined in Myanmar since 2500 BC, as they’ve been found in the Mogok Valley with Stone Age tools. Records of rubies in Myanmar date back to the 6th century AD, and Mogok was the top source of high-quality rubies for around 800 years!
Ancient Burmese practices included warriors putting rubies into their skin for invincibility during battle and the king claiming the biggest rubies as his own.
The July birthstone also has history in India and Hinduism.
The Sanskrit word for ruby was Ratnaraj, meaning “king of precious stones.” Vedic astrologers believed rubies exemplified sun god Surya. Ancient Hindus offered rubies to supreme god Krishna in hopes of being reborn as emperors or kings.
Early gemology came from India, where Hindus separated rubies into 4 castes, the best being called “Brahmin.”
Of course, beliefs about rubies weren’t limited to India and Burma.
Ancient Greeks believed rubies could melt wax. An Islamic legend claims rubies were created by the first man, Adam, after being exiled from the Garden of Eden.
Pictured above: Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom featuring "Black Prince's Ruby" centerstone | Image credit: Cyril James Humphries Davenport circa 1919, Public domain
The July birthstone was popular among southeast Asian royalty, and this fame only increased with ruby’s introduction to medieval Europe.
While trying to secure rubies for King Louis XIV, French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier wrote about rubies being the most valuable gems traded among royal Indian courts.
Renaissance-era royalty had many unique rubies, from King Henry VIII’s famous ruby and pearl necklace portrait to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II’s hen’s egg-sized ruby used for healing.
Some other examples of the July birthstone worn by royals, nobles, or celebrities:
Rubies of Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria: 1) Set with diamond bow - Given by her father Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen, to commemorate the birth of Maria’s son; Sold in 2018 for over $372,000 2) Engagement ring with diamonds
Sutherland Ruby, Diamond, and Pearl Necklace: Made for the marriage of Marquess of Stafford, son of Elizabeth Gordon (Countess of Sutherland); Created in 1849 using gray pearls secretly given to Elizabeth for safekeeping by Marie Antoinette before Antoinette’s death
Meniere Ruby and Diamond Brooch: Originally part of ruby and diamond set commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810 for French Crown Jewels to be worn by Empress Marie-Louise of Austria; Remounted in 1816 for Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, Royal Duchess of Angoulême; Set sold at Louvre auction in 1887 and earrings later converted into brooch auctioned by Christie’s in 2021
Elizabeth Taylor’s Ruby Suite: Set of untreated ruby and diamond jewelry by Cartier; Gifted to Elizabeth Taylor by husband Mike Todd in 1957; Sold at auction by Christie’s in 2011
Historically, ruby was often mistaken for other red gemstones, particularly spinel.
Two notable examples are the “Black Prince’s Ruby,” (pictured above) a 170-carat red spinel cabochon dated back to the mid-1300s and the “Timur Ruby,” a 352-carat polished red spinel believed to be ruby until 1851.
One major difference between ruby and spinel is their mineralogy.
Ruby minerals are varieties of corundum, specifically red corundum. All other colors fall under sapphire. As a corundum variety, ruby is the second hardest gemstone after diamond, ranking at 9 on the Mohs scale.
Corundum forms inside igneous rocks that are aluminum-rich but silicon-free. Alternatively, they can form when aluminum-rich waters run through ancient sea beds, altering minerals present into corundum.
The minerals are composed of aluminum oxide, with various impurities imparting different colors like ruby’s signature red hues.
Pictured above: Star ruby
Pure corundum is colorless, so rubies are red because of impurities.
Traces of chromium replace some of the aluminum, resulting in ruby’s radiant red hues. More chromium means stronger, brighter reds and stronger fluorescence. Ferric iron impurities cause pink or orange undertones.
Ruby birthstones range from pinkish-red to dark red, with potential secondary purple, pink, or orange tones. Some gemologists debate whether pink corundum is ruby or pink sapphire, though.
The July birthstone’s color, source, and formation leads to different varieties:
Pigeon Blood Ruby: Medium-strong to strongly saturated, high-intensity, pure red color with medium to strong fluorescence; Epitome of top-quality Burmese or “Mogok” rubies
Star Ruby: Displays a multi-rayed star of reflected light on its surface via asterism
Mozambique Ruby: Make up most of the 2+ carat rubies in jewelry; Usually deep purplish-red to dark red, sometimes close to pigeon blood ruby standards
Thai Ruby: Mined in Thailand, another top ruby source; Rich, uniform, deep red coloring and high clarity unless halo or discoid fractures are present
Geneva Ruby: Oldest synthetic gemstone and synthetic ruby, created around 1885
Verneuil Ruby: Synthetic ruby created through the “Verneuil process” or flame-fusion method
Flux-Grown Ruby: Synthetic ruby created by dissolving aluminum oxide in a melted flux, followed by ruby crystallization
Color is just one factor of this July birthstone’s value.
Pictured above: Faceted Mozambique ruby with pear shape
Rubies are graded on the 4 Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. Color has the most influence, followed by clarity, cut, and carat weight.
The most valuable ruby color is “pigeon blood,” a bright, blood-red with no undertones.
The presence of secondary tones, like orange or purple, should be minimal. Brighter, more saturated red hues are best.
Rubies have Type II clarity, meaning most have visible inclusions but high-quality specimens won’t have inclusions visible to the naked eye.
The most common inclusions in rubies are “silk,” which are thin, needle-like rutile crystals. Fractures or cavities are also common, which may lower ruby’s durability.
Many top-quality rubies are faceted. The best faceted cuts maximize color, weight, and brilliance. Many rubies are faceted into round, cushion, or pear shapes.
Rubies with more fractures are often cut into cabochons or carved. Star rubies must also be cut into cabochons.
Because rubies often form as short, tabular crystals, high-quality ruby specimens over 1 carat are uncommon. As size goes up, quality usually decreases, making large, high-quality rubies rare.
Certain ruby treatments are expected, while others will lower the July birthstone’s value. Heat treatments, which improve color and clarity, are incredibly common.
Another treatment is fracture-filling, often done with lead glass to improve a ruby’s transparency and sometimes enhance its color.
Controversial beryllium diffusion treatments, definitely lower value.
Shifting gears, what does the July birthstone mean spiritually?
Over the years, rubies have gained quite the spiritual reputation. Some metaphysical nicknames for rubies are:
Stone of Love
Stone of Prophecy
Stone of Protection
Stone of Passion
Stone of Manifestation
Arguably the most prominent July birthstone meaning relates to blood.
Ancient societies believed rubies granted courage and invincibility. Others used ruby healing stones for treating blood loss, circulation, and inflammation.
Another belief was that rubies offered protection, worn on the left side to ward off danger. Some extended the birthstone’s protective abilities to preventing relationship troubles, exemplified in this poem published by Tiffany & Co in 1870:
The gleaming Ruby should adorn,
All those who in July are born,
For thus they’ll be exempt and free,
From lover’s doubts and anxiety.
In Eastern traditions, rubies sometimes represented the “third eye” on Budda statues, symbolizing enlightenment. Unsurprisingly, rubies are also third eye chakra stones.
Pictured above: Faceted red ruby ring with white accent diamonds
Many conscious consumers familiar with conflict diamonds may wonder about the ethics of ruby mining.
Unlike diamonds, rubies don’t have ethics certifications like the Kimberley Process. Sellers must be transparent about where and who they get their rubies from.
For most conscientious jewelers, that means sourcing non-Burmese rubies.
Why? Myanmar’s ruby industry has been shown to be corrupt, funding military coups and oppressive regimes. Reports from Mozambique also suggest human rights violations for ruby miners.
Instead, many jewelers opt for rubies from smaller, independently owned and vetted mines in places like Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Greenland.
Another more ethical and sustainable option is synthetic ruby, which has all the same chemical and physical properties as natural rubies but created in a lab. Synthetic rubies are just as beautiful at a fraction of the cost.
But what about non-ruby July birthstones?
Pictured above: Faceted Oregon sunstone earrings
Are there 2 birthstones for July? Many would say yes! Another frequently listed birthstone for July is onyx, a chalcedony variety.
In fact, onyx and its fellow chalcedony variety carnelian were the original July birthstones inspired by Biblical gemstone lists. The birthstone list created by the National Association of Goldsmiths in 1937 listed carnelian and onyx as alternative July birthstones.
In Hindu traditions, the July birthstone is sapphire, which has all of ruby’s properties but a broader range of colors.
Astrologically, what crystal is for July Leos? Ruled by the sun, Leos born in July can certainly benefit from ruby, but another option is the sparkling sunstone, a lighter-colored feldspar variety with metallic glittering called aventurescence.
What about July gemstones for Cancers? Cancers born in July can benefit from the alternative July birthstone onyx. Onyx gems are spiritually connected to harmonious partnerships and can help Cancers strengthen both their willpower and valued relationships.
If you’re simply looking for a similar-looking ruby substitute, some options are:
Once you’ve chosen the stone, it’s time to decide on what to do with it!
Pictured above: Faceted ruby gold ring with white diamonds
Choosing a July birthstone gift is a meaningful way to celebrate and show your loved one what they mean to you.
It’s even more meaningful if the gift is personalized. Here are some July birthstone jewelry and other gift ideas:
July birthstone necklace with a monogram pendant of their initial
Bracelet featuring July birthstones with your own birthstone
Tungsten ring with embedded birthstone
Stackable ring with birthstones embedded
Ruby stud earrings faceted into their favorite shape
It doesn’t even have to be jewelry! You can get some carved or raw home decor created with ruby or another July birthstone, a themed birthstone candle, a watercolor painting of their favorite July birthstone, or even a birthstone keychain.
What matters is that it comes from the heart and celebrates your July-born loved one!
Rubies are legendary, timeless gems that reflect the warmth and excitement of summer. Those born in July can commemorate the occasion with these gorgeous birthstones or another alternative birthstone. What matters is that your July birthstone represents you!
Find traditional and alternative July birthstones from our hundreds of gemstones available!
谁不喜欢七月?夏至开始了一年中阳光最充足的时间,我们都可以陶醉在夏日的阳光和无忧无虑的精神中。您或您所爱的人在七月庆祝生日吗?如果是这样,您将受益于了解有关七月生日石(永远令人着迷的红宝石)的所有信息。
这些引人注目的红色珠宝为何如此吸引大众?从古代到现代,世界各地的文化都珍视这些红色宝石。
七月生日石有许多特征使其极具吸引力。在本文中,我们将探讨红宝石生日石的每一个细节、它的治愈能力和独特特性。
准备好让这颗红色宝石的强度点燃内心的火焰了吗?以下是您需要了解的有关七月生日石的所有信息。
红宝石的深红色很容易辨认。你可能会想,红宝石是一个灵性的名字吗?让我们来看看吧!
红宝石这个名字来自拉丁词ruber ,意思是“红色”。
红宝石的历史可以追溯到很久以前,追踪其起源是一项复杂的任务。我们知道,有记录表明它们在公元前 200 年首次用于中国丝绸之路贸易。此外,《圣詹姆斯圣经》六次提到红宝石!
然而,许多人认为第一批出土的红宝石来自亚洲。 20 世纪初,泰国和柬埔寨出现了优质红宝石。后来,在越南又发现了更多。然而,缅甸(现缅甸)一直是生产红宝石数量和质量最高的国家。
人们渴望缅甸红宝石的主要原因之一是它们的颜色。这些深红色红宝石通常被称为“鸽血红”,是世界上最有价值的宝石之一。 2016 年,一枚重 10.05 克拉的缅甸红宝石戒指,名为“Ratnaraj”(梵文意为“宝石之王”),在佳士得拍卖行以 1020 万美元的成交价打破了纪录!
毫无疑问,红宝石是强大的心石,非常适合打开和激活心轮。佩戴七月生日石可以保护您免受心碎的痛苦。
红宝石与心灵的联系是为什么它们被用来促进浪漫关系中的奉献和忠诚。当爱德华八世国王放弃王位与他的情人沃利斯·辛普森结婚时,他送给她一条红宝石项链,上面刻着“我的沃利斯”字样。
即使您没有恋爱,红宝石也可以帮助您保持开放的心态。我们都会经历生活中的艰难时刻,如果您感到情绪低落,请尝试佩戴红宝石首饰一两天。这块石头将帮助您释放过去情感创伤或身体虐待的精神印记,以找到深层治愈。
风从你的帆上消失了吗?
红宝石有能力增加您对生活的热情。它们可以用作保持专注和完成任务的激励工具。你有拖延症吗?红宝石会给你动力,最终让你开始一项你忽视的任务。在这个部门,我们都需要红宝石的一点帮助!
许多人认为红宝石的神秘特性延伸到身体保护和佩戴宝石作为护身符。将七月生日石佩戴在左侧靠近心脏的地方,会带来平静的生活。通过这种选择放置,个人及其财产可以获得免受伤害的保护。
红宝石的血色解释了为什么这种宝石与流经我们静脉的液体有着密切的联系。
人们相信那些冒着生命危险的人与这些石头有着独特的联系。在《绿野仙踪》中,好女巫格林达送给多萝西红宝石拖鞋,以在旅途中保护她!
“没有什么地方比得上家”,当您感到任性或迷失时,红宝石可以指引您回家。
缅甸武士在战斗中佩戴红宝石以求保护。然而,仅仅将它们穿在鞋子或盔甲上还不够。为了充分受益于红宝石的保护,战士会将宝石插入他们的肉中。
红宝石的保护能力也是其深受皇室成员喜爱的原因。红宝石代表了许多经验特征,包括勇气、力量和免受伤害的保护。
除了这些美德之外,红宝石还能给佩戴者带来好运!在中国文化中,红色是幸运的官方颜色。
人们将红宝石埋在生意的根基下,以祈求好运。中国贵族也会用红宝石装饰他们的盔甲。
由于红宝石似乎含有内在的火焰,因此它们通常与火和纯洁联系在一起。人们说,要想把水煮沸净化水,就必须先往锅里扔一颗红宝石。
这些净化能力就是人们使用红宝石来治疗发烧和感染的原因。治疗师使用红宝石来解毒身体的血液和淋巴结。红宝石甚至可以促进血液循环不良的人的血液流动。
红宝石对于女性来说是一种极好的治疗宝石,因为它们能够调节月经量和缓解抽筋疼痛。据说这种石头可以治疗不孕和阳痿等性问题,对生殖器官有益。此外,它们还可以通过减轻不适症状来帮助更年期女性。
许多人认为红宝石是治疗血液、心脏、冠状动脉或心室问题的最佳宝石之一。正因为如此,如果您患有心脏病或血液疾病,您应该送给自己一件红宝石首饰。
无可否认,红宝石能够点燃诱人的激情。这种石头的丰富色彩和强大特性吸引着人们,这是理所当然的。我们都有激情,红宝石回应我们内心的渴望,将它们放大为有形的形式。
如果颜色本身不够诱人,他们可以制作美丽的七月生日石珠宝!
你是七月巨蟹座还是狮子座?沉迷于红宝石令人难以抗拒的美丽!
想购买红宝石吗?查看下面的链接!
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