July Birthstone: The Ruby
If you were born in July, your birthstone is quite simply the most coveted in the mineral world: the ruby. Passionate red, extreme rarity, a thousand-year history — the king of gems wears its nickname well.
The ruby, king of precious stones
Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the same mineral family as sapphire. Chromium gives it its colour — and chromium is also what makes fine rubies so rare: large crystals of beautiful colour are infinitely less common than for other gems. The most legendary hue, “pigeon blood” red, reaches some of the highest per-carat prices on the gemstone market.
Symbolism: the stone of passion
In ancient India, the ruby was called “ratnaraj”, the king of precious stones. In medieval Europe, it was believed to protect warriors and guarantee love. A stone of passion, courage and vitality, it is the ultimate gift to celebrate an ardent love — or a July birthday.
How to choose a ruby
- Colour first: a frank, intense, luminous red outweighs all other criteria;
- Treatment: most rubies on the market are heated (a traditional, stable treatment); unheated rubies are rarities sought after by collectors;
- The certificate: for a ruby, it brings real security — several of our rubies are sold with theirs.
Which jewel for a ruby?
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale — just behind diamond — the ruby can be worn every day without worry: engagement ring, wedding band, pendant or earrings. Our stones can be set in bespoke mountings by our partner jeweller to create the jewel that is truly you.
Discover our rubies and all our red gems, or book an appointment at our Paris office to admire them.
Come back each month for the birthstone of the moment: last month, the moonstone.
