July's Birthstone: What a Ruby Really Means (and How to Wear One)

If you were born in July, your birthstone is the ruby. Honestly, you got a good one.

The ruby is the red at the center of almost every old story about love and nerve. It is the stone kings fought over and warriors wore into battle. It was never meant to sit quietly in a drawer, and the people drawn to it usually aren't the quiet type either.

Here is what a ruby actually means, and how to wear a bit of red without it wearing you.

What does a ruby symbolize?

Love, first. The deep, certain kind. For centuries the ruby has stood for passion, devotion, and a heart that knows what it wants.

Courage comes next. People used to believe a ruby held an inner fire that could not be put out, so wearing one meant carrying your own energy with you. Vitality and protection got attached to the stone along the way too. If a piece of jewelry could have a pulse, the ruby would be the one.

That is why red reads so well on a bold design. Our Ruby Flower Skull Ring sets twenty three tiny rubies into flower petals across a silver skull, life and death in the same ring, which is exactly the sort of contradiction rubies were made for. Or take the Lion Ring with a Ruby Crown ($235), where a single red stone sits on the lion's head like it belongs there. Strength and heart, together.

The king of gems

The ruby has been treated as royalty for a very long time. In Sanskrit it was called ratnaraj, king of precious stones. Burmese warriors wore rubies into battle believing the stone made them invincible. Kings and queens across Europe and Asia collected them and rarely let them go.

Part of it is rarity, a fine red ruby is genuinely hard to find. But most of it is the color. Nothing else in the gem world looks like it.

Why we keep coming back to ruby

We have set a lot of rubies over the years and it is still one of our favorite stones to work with. A ruby can turn a gentle design fierce and a fierce design regal, depending on where you put it.

Sometimes it is the whole point of the piece. Sometimes it is a small, deliberate spark. Our Snake Ring with Ruby Eyes ($180) gives a coiled silver snake two red eyes that seem to follow you, and the White Rabbit Ring with Ruby Eyes does something softer with the same idea, a shy creature with a quiet flash of red. On the Lady Skull Ring and the Mohawk Skull Ring, rubies bring warmth to silver that would otherwise feel cold.

And when one red stone is not enough, we mix. The Elephant Ring with Emerald and Ruby pairs deep green with red for something that looks almost imperial, and the Wolf Ring with Emerald and Ruby hides a single ruby in the forehead like a small secret. If you want the full royal treatment, the Multicolor Lion Necklace ($430) crowns the lion with emeralds, sapphires, and ruby all at once.

Every one of these starts as a hand carved sculpture in our studio, gets cast in sterling silver or gold, and has its stones set by hand at the bench. The rubies are natural. We pick them one at a time, because a dull red is a wasted ruby. We have worked this way since 2014, for more than 20,000 customers around the world.

A ruby for a July birthday

If you are shopping for someone born in July, a ruby is about as personal as a gift gets. It is their stone, which quietly says you paid attention.

You do not have to spend a fortune to say it, either. The Gold Heart Ring with a Ruby is a small, sweet piece that leads with the meaning rather than the price tag. If the July person in your life is bolder, the Eagle Ring with Sapphires and Rubies will suit them better, or the Rainbow Unicorn Ring ($326), which sets a ruby alongside four other stones.

One practical note if the birthday is coming up fast. Every piece is made to order and standard production takes 2 to 3 weeks. If that is cutting it close, write to us. We offer rush production in under 7 days.

Ruby and love

There is a reason rubies show up in so many love stories. Ruby is the traditional gift for a fortieth wedding anniversary, and it has always stood for lasting devotion. Some people even choose a ruby over a diamond for an engagement, precisely because it means something warmer.

How to wear it, and will it hold up

Ruby is a nine on the hardness scale, second only to diamond, so it takes daily wear without complaint. You can put on a ruby ring in the morning and forget about it, which is the whole point of a ring you actually love.

As for styling, red is easier than people think. It looks dramatic against oxidized silver and rich against gold, and either way it does most of the work for you. Start with one piece. A single red stone changes an outfit more than three of anything else.

Frequently asked questions

What is July's birthstone?

The ruby. It is the traditional birthstone for anyone born in July.

What does a ruby symbolize?

Love, passion, courage, and vitality. For centuries the ruby has been seen as a stone of the heart, said to hold an inner fire that protects whoever wears it.

Is a ruby a good gift?

Yes, especially for a July birthday or a milestone. It is the July birthstone and the traditional fortieth anniversary gem, so it always feels intentional.

Is a ruby durable enough for everyday wear?

Very. Ruby scores a nine out of ten on the hardness scale, second only to diamond, so it stands up well to daily wear.

July is your month and the ruby is your stone. Come find the one that feels like you in our ruby collection. Every piece is sculpted in our studio and made to order.