Ruby is the birthstone for July, and it wears the title well. The stone is corundum, the same mineral as sapphire, turned red by a trace of chromium. That chromium does something else too: it makes a fine ruby fluoresce in daylight, which is why the best stones read brighter than the light around them. For centuries the mines of Burma set the standard for color, a pure red leaning just slightly toward blue that the old trade called pigeon's blood, and every ruby since has been measured against it. We cover the full story in our July birthstone guide.
The rubies here span everything we handle: vintage, estate, and modern. Victorian and mid-century gold work where rubies flash from figural pieces, serpents, brooches, and charms. Estate eternity bands in French cut and channel settings. Modern studs, hoops, and tennis pieces that let the color carry the design. Rubies suit commitment jewelry as well, and our ruby wedding bands collect that thread in one place; for nine wearable ideas, see Fire Within.
Ruby is also one of the most practical colored stones you can own. Corundum registers 9 on the Mohs scale, harder than any gemstone in common wear except diamond, so rings and bracelets take daily life in stride. The care it asks for is modest: mild soap, a soft cloth, and a rest away from harder stones. Our jewelry care guide covers the details.
July is the obvious occasion, but rubies have never needed one. If you are matching stones to other birthdays, our birthstone jewelry guide maps the whole year.
