July Birthstone: Ruby, the Red Stone Explained

The July birthstone is ruby, the deep red gem that has been called the king of stones for centuries. July is one of the few months with just one stone on the modern list, and it's a big one. Here's a fun fact to start: ruby and sapphire are the same mineral. The only real difference is colour.

One stone for July: why ruby

Birthstone lists have changed a lot over the centuries. In 1912, American jewellers agreed on one standard list so everyone sold the same stone for the same month. It has been updated a few times since, and people now just call it the modern list.

Ruby has held July the whole time. Some months picked up second and third stones over the years. July never needed one. You can see how the rest of the calendar lines up in our guide to every month's birthstone.

What ruby actually is

Ruby is a red variety of corundum, a mineral made of aluminium and oxygen. Pure corundum is colourless. A tiny trace of chromium turns it red. Every other colour of corundum, from blue to yellow to pink, gets called sapphire instead.

That chromium does something else too. It makes many rubies glow red under ultraviolet light, and even a little in sunlight. That glow is part of why the best rubies look like they're lit from inside.

Ruby is tough. It sits at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, just below diamond. That makes it a great everyday stone for rings and bracelets. The name comes from the Latin word for red, which feels about right. GIA's ruby guide goes deep if you want the gem-nerd version.

Clear gems and bead-grade ruby

Not every ruby looks like the one in a ring. Clear, glowing, deep red rubies are rare. Most ruby that comes out of the ground is cloudy, cracked or more pinkish. That material is still real ruby. It gets cut into beads, cabochons and small stones for everyday jewellery, and it's how most people get to wear ruby at all.

Ruby meaning: what it's traditionally linked with

Red has always meant passion, so ruby has a lot of stories. The story goes that warriors in old Burma set rubies into their skin, believing it made them unbeatable. In parts of medieval Europe, people believed a ruby would darken to warn its owner of danger.

Today, people use ruby as a reminder of love, courage and confidence. It's a popular anniversary gem, traditionally tied to the 40th. It's linked with the root and heart chakras, and with Leo, the sign that starts in late July.

Ruby zoisite: a different stone with ruby inside

Here's one that confuses a lot of people. Ruby zoisite looks nothing like a red gem. It's a green stone with chunky pink-red spots and little black flecks.

The green part is zoisite, a different mineral entirely. The pink-red spots are small ruby crystals that grew inside it. The black flecks are usually a mineral called hornblende. So ruby zoisite does contain real ruby, but it isn't gem ruby. Think of it as its own stone, not a cheaper version of a ruby ring.

It's softer than ruby, around 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and people love it for the red-and-green look. It's traditionally linked with growth and with the heart chakra, which matches its colours nicely.

July zodiac signs and their stones

July is split between two signs:

• Cancer season runs until about July 22. Moonstone is the classic pick here. See the Cancer zodiac collection.
• Leo starts around July 23. Bold, warm and a little dramatic, so ruby fits. Browse the Leo collection.

Curious about your moon and rising signs too? Our free natal chart works them out from your birth time and place.

Is my ruby real?

Here's the honest part. Most rubies sold today have been heated. Heat improves the colour and clarity, and it's a long-standing, stable practice. A heated ruby is still a natural ruby.

Some lower-grade rubies go further. Their cracks get filled with glass to make them look clearer. Those stones are more fragile, and a good seller will tell you. Lab-grown ruby also exists. It's real corundum made in a lab, and it looks almost flawless.

A few clues worth checking:

• Tiny flaws. Natural ruby usually has small needles, specks or "silk" inside. Perfectly clean and cheap is worth a second look.
• Bubbles. Round gas bubbles under a magnifier point to glass or glass filling.
• Colour. Natural ruby colour is rarely perfectly even. Glass often looks too bright and too uniform.
• Ask. For an expensive stone, a gem lab report is the only sure answer.

At The Rock Space, treated, dyed and man-made stones are labelled as such.

Caring for ruby

• Rinse and wipe. Solid ruby is fine with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
• Be gentle with filled stones. Glass-filled ruby can be damaged by heat and harsh cleaners.
• Store it apart. At 9 on the Mohs scale, ruby will scratch softer stones in a jewellery box.
• Bracelets off for the pool. Elastic and thread last longer away from chlorine.

July birthstone gift ideas

A birthstone takes the guesswork out of a gift. A few ideas from the shelf right now:

• Fine and delicate. The red ruby bead necklace and the ruby bracelet use tiny 2-3mm ruby beads.
• Something different. The ruby zoisite chip bracelet is green and pink, for someone who likes the unexpected.
• Their own design. Pick stones bead by bead in our Design Your Own Bracelet builder.

More in the ruby collection. Shopping for other birthdays? See the June birthstone and the August birthstone guides.

Know someone with a July birthday? Make them a free July birthstone card and send it by text or email.

Frequently asked questions

How can you tell a real ruby?

Look for tiny needles or specks inside, slightly uneven colour, and no round bubbles. A flawless, glowing ruby at a low price is worth questioning. For a valuable stone, a gem lab report is the sure answer.

What is the rarest birthstone?

Alexandrite is the one usually named, since natural stones with a strong colour change are scarce. Fine untreated rubies, emeralds and natural pearls are also very rare. Everyday-quality pieces of most birthstones are easy to find.

What 2 months have three birthstones?

June (pearl, moonstone, alexandrite) and August (peridot, spinel, sardonyx) are the usual answer. December also has at least three on the modern list.

Which birthstone is the luckiest?

None is luckier than another. Traditionally, people wear the stone of their own birth month as a personal keepsake, so the luckiest one is simply yours.

Come say hi

Ruby looks different in every light, and ruby zoisite is even better in your hand. Visit us at 396 Victoria Street North in Kitchener and hold a few before you choose. Or take the Crystal Quiz if you'd rather start online.