The July Birthstone is one of the most desirable birthstones of them all.
Ruby is one of the “four precious stones”, alongside diamond, sapphire, and emerald. As befits one of the most beautiful gemstones we know today, it is the sole birthstone of July.
Keep reading to discover everything that you need to know about this stunning birthstone.
What is the Birthstone for July?
Myths About July Birthstone
Locations of Ruby
Physical Properties
Famous People With Ruby Birthstones
Famous Ruby Jewelry
July Birthstone Jewelry
Shopping for the Right Ruby
Caring and Cleaning Ruby
What Is The Birthstone For July?
What is the Birthstone for July Educational Article Article
The birthstone for July is the Ruby. Unlike other months that have multiple birthstones, the month of July has one the ruby and nothing else.
The word “ruby” comes from the Latin word “ruber” which is translated to mean red.
Ruby is actually a red sapphire, as both are made of the mineral corundum. Of all gem-quality corundum, it is only rubies that are called anything other than sapphire. All other colors of corundum are labeled under the umbrella of sapphire.
What makes the ruby special is the spectrum of quality that exists within the ruby spectrum. There are ruby stones that cost very little and then there are rubies that can cost millions of dollars.
Myths And Meaning Of July Birthstone
Myths and Meaning of July Birthstone Educational Article
Despite the red heart being symbolistic of the concept of love, this hasn’t always been the case. The association with the heart didn’t actually begin until medieval times.
But, for 500 years or more, it is love and the heart which has been dominating the lore of the ruby. Often cut into a heart shape, and with the pure red desirability of the best stones, it isn’t difficult to see how we got to that point.
The ruby is mentioned in the Bible as being the first stone of the High Priests breastplate. It represented the Tribe of Reuven. Ruby is said to help with childbirth.
Mining Locations Of Ruby
Mining Locations of Ruby Educational Article Map Graphic
South East Asia has long been a vital region for the production of ruby. During the early 20th century, it was the border region of Thailand and Cambodia which produced excellent rubies of very high quality. Later came Vietnam, with Mozambique also becoming a major contributor. Through it all, however, it is Burma (now Myanmar) which has led the way.
For over 500 years, the Mogok region of Burma has shown its ability to consistently produce rubies with stunning vibrancy and color. Burmese rubies also have a soft red fluorescence which promotes the soft beauty of the ruby still further.
Here are the primary locations of famous ruby mines:
Burma (Now Republic of Myanmar)
Thailand
Afghanistan
Australia
Brazil
Madagascar
Mozambique
Other famous locations of ruby mines are India, Namibia , Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
Physical Properties
Physical Properties Of Ruby Educational Article Chromium and Corundum
Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum. It is almost chemically identical to sapphire, also a variety of corundum. Whereas sapphire has traces of iron and titanium which produces the vivid blue color, ruby instead contains chromium.
Corundum is actually colorless, but completely colorless examples are incredibly rare. Instead, the crystals take in trace elements from the rocks around them. When chromium is added, this creates the vivid red color of the ruby. Chromium also adds the red fluorescence which adds great intensity to the color.
Found in both marble and basalt rocks, basalt tends to introduce more iron. This gives the ruby a slight purple tint, which reduces the desirability somewhat from that of chromium-based crystals. Considered the greatest of all gemstones by gemologists and scientists alike, it was a ruby that formed part of the world’s first laser in 1960. Still today, the gem is key to the production of lasers, although the use of synthetic rubies is more common for industrial uses.
Mohs Hardness Scale Gemstone Ruby 9 Graphic Estate Diamond Jewelry
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs Scale, behind only diamond, ruby is very durable and suitable for everyday wear.
Different Colors Of Rubies
Different Colors of Rubies Red Pinkish Red Purplish Red
Ruby gems have a red color. However, they can have different hues of red. Expert jewelers categorize ruby colors into three different categories:
Pinkish Red Rubies
The first category of rubies has pinkish-red gemstones. Red is the dominant hue in these stones. The pink color is just an overtone. Pinkish-red rubies’ color saturation ranges from light to dark. If you come across a gem called deep magenta ruby, it refers to dark pinkish-red ruby. On the other hand, lighter pinkish-red rubies are also called rose pink rubies, but lighter shades are sometimes classified as sapphires.
Red Rubies
Red rubies are almost as precious as diamonds. They are predominantly red but can have some color blemishes. Rubies in this category can appear light, medium, or dark red. Of the three selections, the most valuable option is medium-red. These rubies are not too light or dark. Instead, their level of redness is somewhere in the middle.
Purplish Red Rubies
The third category of rubies contains purplish red stones. Purplish red gemstones have both chromium and titanium traces. Chromium gives the ruby stone its red hue while titanium turns it purple. Still, red is the dominant color in these stones. The most popularly bought purplish red rubies are either medium or dark.
Types Of Rubies
Types of Rubies Burmese Pigeon Blood Star African Thai Tanzanian Madagascar Afghanistan
Many types of ruby stones are available for sale. Here are some of the most wanted types of rubies you might encounter in jewelry.
Burmese Rubies
As their name suggests, Burmese rubies originate from Myanmar (formerly called Burma). These gemstones boast a deep red tone because they have a high chromium concentration. An original Burmese ruby will almost always have a blemish.
Pigeon Blood Red Rubies
Pigeon Blood red rubies are the rarest because of their distinctive red hue. Unlike other rubies, pigeon blood stones have red as their primary and only color. They are the most unique and most wanted rubies.
Star Rubies
Star rubies display asterism, i.e., a star visible under certain angles caused by other metals and minerals in the crystal lattice. The most sought-after star rubies have clearly visible six-rayed stars.
African Rubies
These gemstones come from Mozambique and Kenya. They may have a purplish to dark red shade. However, the best rubies have a dark red color. African rubies also appear in many quality levels and sizes.
Thai Rubies
These rubies have traces of chromium and iron. That’s why they have a darker tone. Thai rubies hail from Bangkok.
Tanzanian Rubies
Tanzanian ruby gemstones come from Songea mines. Tinier rubies display higher color intensity than larger ones. They are among the affordable rubies.
Madagascar Rubies
Madagascar ruby stones originate from Vatomandry and Andilamena mines. They are high-quality gems in reddish-brown, orange, and red colors.
Afghanistan Rubies
These gemstones are mined from Jagdalek and Badakshan. Each mine produces unique rubies. For instance, Jagdalek rubies have a light red to deep red color. Because of this, these gemstones boast distinctive properties not found in rubies from other regions.
July Birthstone Jewelry
July Birthstone Jewelry Buccellati Ring Photo Graphic Blog Article
Ruby suits “fancy” cuts very well, and its red color makes for spectacular effects in all settings. With ruby, it is almost all about the color. A pure, deep red is most sought after, although a slight hint of orange is acceptable. A stone that is too orange, or with too much purple usually has a much lower value than a good red example.
As well as providing ruby with its red color, chromium also creates inclusions within the stone. Usually, inclusions would diminish the value and desirability of any gemstone, but they are an asset for the ruby. The inclusions are called “silk”, as they give a soft appearance to the glow of the ruby. In extreme circumstances, the silk can also cause a very rare star effect. This will increase the value of the ruby significantly.
The inclusions are also a good indication of a ruby’s authenticity. All natural rubies will have inclusions as a consequence of the presence of chromium. Synthetic rubies have no such inclusions.
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