July-Ruby

July-Ruby

July brings Ruby, the most treasured of stones. Ruber is the Latin from which ruby has taken its name. It signifies a color of passion and love. There's little that draws the eye like that sparkling ruby birthstone. "Pigeon's blood," a color in the jargon, for the best quality of Ruby, is that deep crimson with a slightly purplish tinge. Ruby is a type of the mineral corundum, its color comes from trace elements of the metal chromium. The more chromium, the more intense the red color becomes. Here's what you need to know about this lovely July birthstone so you can better choose one for yourself or for that special loved one born in July.

Ruby Birthstone Meaning & History

In ancient India, ruby is called the "king of precious stones" because of its rarity, hardness, second to diamond, beauty, and mysteriously powerful appearance. Rubies have been long associated with the life force blood, used in Indian jewelry to embody power and youthful energy. For their part, people of centuries earlier believed this birthstone could predict misfortune or danger in July cure inflammatory diseases, and soothe anger as well. Burmese warriors believed they made it invincible for battles. Medieval Europeans also believed that the rubies gave health, wisdom, wealth, and good fortune in love.

Where are Rubies Found?

Our search for the July birthstone begins in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, one of the oldest recorded sources of fine rubies. For more than five centuries, the Mogok area in Myanmar has produced some of the most coveted rubies – vibrant red beauties softened by light-scattering inclusions and a glowing red fluorescence. The region is a place of weathered marble and ancient Buddhist temples.

Since the late 20th century, Vietnam has become another significant source of the July birthstone. In northern Vietnam, the Luc Yen region is characterized by mountains covered with rainforest above broad paddy fields. Rubies of red to purplish red color are produced there. Much farther south, the Quy Chau district has also been a prolific source of excellent rubies. Today, artisanal miners work the soil in hopes of finding a gem that will change their fortunes.

Mozambique is a significant new source for the July birthstone. The prolific mines at Montepuez in this African nation have yielded rubies compared to those found in the famed mines of Mogok.

Ruby Birthstone Care & Cleaning

Rubies are often heat treated to remove purplish coloration, leaving a purer red. The process can also remove "silk" (minute needle-like inclusions) that can make a gem appear lighter in tone and be more opaque. The trade commonly accepts heat treatment, as it is stable to normal conditions of wear and care. However, rubies may also be treated with lattice diffusion treatment and dyeing. In lower-quality material, surface-reaching fractures and cavities may be filled with glass to decrease their visibility so the gem appears more transparent. Some of these treatments may make the ruby birthstone more vulnerable to damage during normal wear and care.

Before you purchase, always ask if your ruby has been treated and by what method. The Federal Trade Commission requires disclosure of treatments that affect a gemstone's perceived value. A GIA Identification Report is important in identifying if a stone is natural or synthetic and whether it has been treated in any fashion.

Most of the July birthstone can be safely cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion–treated stones. Glass-filled or dyed stones should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Whether you are born in July or not, having a beautiful ruby is something very rare and precious. And if you like red gems in general, check out our Ruby Buyers Guide.