July Birthstone Jewellery: The Best Ruby Necklaces, Rings And Bracelets

Not only do summer babies get blessed with perfect party weather, they've also been bestowed with one of the most covetable birthstones.

The July birthstone is ruby and it's undoubtedly one of the most recognisable and in-demand gem stones of all time.

Thanks to its unmistakable deep red hues, ruby has become one of the most popular traditional stones that has a long association with royalty and can fetch huge sums at auction. The bad news for July babies (or anyone buying a gift for them) is that rubies don't come cheap. In fact, the red gem has been known to fetch over £1m per carat (!) at auction.  

Thanks to their incredible durability, rubies have long been associated with physicality and strength. In Ancient Times, they were used by warriors in battle thanks to their deep connection to the human body and their perceived ability to boost its strength and stamina. On an emotional level, rubies have long been used to calm anger and help the wearer navigate passionate social situations. Oooft.

Because this fiery stone has developed such strong romantic connotations, and it's nearly as hard as diamonds, it's becoming a popular engagement ring choice.  

If your birthday is in July and you're looking to treat yourself - or you're seeking a present for a friend or family member with a summer birthday - we've rounded up everything you need to know about rubies. We've also curated the ultimate edit of the best (and most reasonable) rubies to buy now. Fear not, our pick won't set you back £1m per carat, we promise.

What's the birthstone colour for July?

Ruby is the birthstone for July and it's a covetable one. In fact, ruby was dubbed ‘the King of precious stones’ back in ancient India because it was so rare, durable and pretty damn dazzling. Its hardness is second only to diamond and it's long been believed that ruby is bestowed with plentiful mystical powers.

Rather fittingly, it is thought that ruby's moniker comes from ‘rubeus’, which is the Latin word for red. In ancient Sanskrit, ruby was translated to ratnaraj, which meant ‘King of precious stones’. Prince Charles, who?

Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum (all other gems of this variety are sapphire). What makes ruby different is that it's given its red hue by the element chromium. If you've ever studied a ruby, you might notice its slight fluorescence - this is thanks to the chromium which makes it look lit from within. It's this special element that actually makes the ruby so rare - and sadly, expensive.

Rubies were first mined in Burma’s Mogok Valley and these Burmese Rubies are hailed Pigeon’s Blood Rubies, which are the most expensive of all the rubies in the world. The gem stone is also mined in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, India, parts of the Middle East, East Africa, and the United States.

What do rubies symbolise?

Thanks to their iconic deep red hue, rubies are linked to the life blood force and have been deemed a sign of youthful energy and strength since Ancient Times, which is why ancient warriors in Burma and China adorned their armour with protective rubies when they went in to battle. In fact, some actually made incisions in their skin and inserted rubies as a form of protection and invincibility.

Due to its association with blood, people were convinced the stone could remedy bleeding and inflammation, and increase body warmth. In India, people wore rubies across their heart to help them live in harmony with their enemies. 

Ruby also has huge connections to love and passion, and the gem stone is often given to a loved one as a sign of commitment. Ruby is also given as a traditional gift for 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.

After more jewellery content? You're in luck because we've got plenty, including gold jewellery, gold hoop earrings and initial pendants. We've also got friendship bracelets, pearl jewellery, unique engagement rings, Missoma jewellery, Monica Vinader jewellery, resin rings a la Dua Lipa and clip on earrings (yes, really). We also have guides to the best September birthstone jewellery, October birthstone jewellery, November birthstone jewellery, December birthstone jewellery, January birthstone jewellery, February birthstone jewellery, March birthstone jewellery, April birthstone jewellery, May birthstone jewellery and June birthstone jewellery if you're looking to treat someone with a birthday in those months. You're most welcome. 

Scroll through our edit of July birthstone jewellery to shop now and wear forever…

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