There is something about July that makes you sweat. Even in the most temperate climes, it lingers in the air like a secret. July is a month of ripening, of heat that feels less like sunlight and more like memory. It is the midpoint of the year, the breath before the exhale. And fittingly, its birthstone is not pale, nor shy, nor subtle.
The July birthstone is ruby, a stone whose color suggests courage, heat, and most importantly, love.
A Brief History of the Ruby
Rubies have been treasured for thousands of years. In Sanskrit, the word for ruby is ratnaraj, "king of precious stones." In the ancient Burmese warrior culture, soldiers believed that embedding rubies into their skin would protect them in battle. Medieval Europeans thought rubies could guarantee health, wealth, and wisdom. They wore them in the belief that they could ward off plague and misfortune.
Rubies were also considered essential in ceremonial jewelry. The coronation rings of royalty were often set with rubies. For centuries, the British Crown Jewels featured one particular stone known as the Black Prince's Ruby, a misnamed spinel, but an apt indicator of how even the idea of ruby held sway over monarchs. To wear a ruby was to dare to be seen.
How Rubies Are Formed
Rubies, like sapphires, are made of corundum. What sets the ruby apart is the presence of chromium, the element that gives it that unmistakable red hue. This infusion of chromium not only blesses the ruby with its color but also lends it a glow from within, a fluorescence that seems to catch fire in natural light.
Formed under intense heat and pressure in the Earth’s crust, rubies are among the hardest gemstones, second only to diamonds on the Mohs scale. That durability has made them enduring, literally and metaphorically, through centuries of use and wear.
Where Rubies Are Found
The most prized rubies historically come from Myanmar (formerly Burma), especially the famed Mogok Valley. Burmese rubies are known for their saturated, vivid red, a shade often described as "pigeon's blood." Today, rubies are also mined in Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and even parts of the United States.
Each region imparts a subtle fingerprint on its stones. Thai rubies tend to be darker, while Vietnamese rubies can display an almost electric pinkish red. These regional nuances give ruby jewelry, from ruby rings to ruby necklaces, a sense of geography and specificity. Every stone tells a different story.
Astrological & Birthstone Significance
July is governed by Cancer and Leo, signs ruled by emotion and fire, respectively. It is no coincidence that the ruby, a stone of passion, power, and protection, fits both profiles.
Cancers are known for their emotional depth, their protective instincts, and their tendency to love fiercely. Rubies reflect that energy back to them, offering strength and vitality in return. Leos, on the other hand, thrive on attention and authority. A July birthstone ring or necklace does not just accessorize a Leo, it armors them.
The ruby is thought to promote emotional balance, enhance motivation, and increase self-esteem. As a birthstone, it serves not merely as a marker of when one was born, but of what one is made of.
While ruby is the primary July birthstone, some modern lists also include carnelian and sardonyx as alternate or secondary stones. These offer similar hues and symbolic properties, but ruby remains the undisputed jewel of the month.
Ruby in Jewelry
If diamonds are forever, rubies are inevitable. You do not stumble upon a ruby. You choose it, or more accurately, it chooses you.
The versatility of ruby jewelry is part of its magic. It is as comfortable in an opulent setting as it is in a minimalist one. Ruby rings can be grand or understated, encircled by diamonds or set in simple gold. Vintage ruby rings add the allure of provenance, history, and romance.
Ruby engagement rings are gaining popularity among those who want something a little less expected, a little more alive. The idea of a ruby wedding ring speaks to the kind of love that is not timid, that burns and does not flicker. These are rings for those who believe that commitment is not soft but bold.
July birthstone rings are often given as milestone gifts, a 40th wedding anniversary, a baby born in summer, or a birthday that marks a new chapter.
For the ears, ruby earrings offer a spark of color near the face, brightening the eyes and warming the complexion. Studs, drops, chandeliers, each frame the ruby differently, like a canvas frames light.
July birthstone earrings can be dainty enough for everyday wear or dramatic enough for a black-tie gala. That’s the thing about Ruby: it adapts to the moment without ever losing its essence.
Around the neck, the ruby becomes almost talismanic. A July birthstone necklace rests near the heart, where its energy is said to resonate most. Whether it’s a singular pendant or a strand of stones, ruby necklaces project strength without needing to shout.
And for those who prefer their adornments with movement, ruby bracelets or July birthstone bracelets provide rhythm. A flick of the wrist, a glint of red, a reminder that beauty is never static.
Even the overlooked brooch has its moment with ruby. A ruby brooch carries a kind of old-school glamour, the sort you see in old black-and-white movies when stars lit up a room simply by entering it.
Ruby in Vintage and Custom Design
At Jack Weir & Sons, we believe that ruby jewelry is more than ornamental. It’s curatorial. Our art deco and mid-century collections highlight how the ruby has been used across time, sometimes sharply geometric, other times swirling, and romantic. A custom ruby piece allows you to carry that history forward, shaped to your own story.
There’s an intimacy to working with ruby birthstone jewelry that feels different from other stones. Maybe it’s the depth of color. Maybe it’s the symbolism. Or maybe it’s that rubies, like people, aren’t perfect; they often carry inclusions, called "silk," that refract light and give them life. Those flaws aren’t imperfections. They’re fingerprints. They’re proof.
To wear the July birthstone is to carry a bit of the sun with you. Not the gentle April kind, not the hesitant November haze. The full-force, unapologetic blaze of July. Rubies remind us that beauty can be fierce and that passion is worth commemorating.
So, whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a moment of personal triumph, or simply a deep connection to this molten, magnificent stone, ruby jewelry is an inheritance you give yourself.
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At Jack Weir & Sons, we’ve spent the last 40 years traveling to Europe and all over the world, curating extraordinary estate jewels. JWS is where the old world meets the new world. Celebrate life, preserve history, and discover your own priceless heirloom jewel. We are extremely grateful for our clients and the ability to help people celebrate their special moments through one-of-a-kind jewelry. To share that gratitude and our strong family values, we chose to partner with Baby2Baby. So far, we've donated $125,000. A portion of every sale goes towards children living in poverty to provide them with diapers, clothing, and all the basic necessities that every child deserves.
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