July Birthday Gifts

Ruby, arguably the most famous of red colored stones, is the gemstone for July. Representing health and wisdom this gem comes from the 'corundum' mineral species. Hardest of natural gems aside from diamond, it is durable enough for daily wear and matches any fashionable outfit with it's deep and vivid red color.

A Ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum. The word ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium.

The quality of a ruby is determined by its color, cut, and clarity, which, along with carat weight, affect its value. The brightest and most valuable shade of red called blood-red or pigeon blood, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality. After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions may indicate that the stone has been treated. Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, only moissanite and diamond are harder, with diamond having a Mohs hardness of 10.0 and moissanite falling somewhere in between corundum (ruby) and diamond in hardness. It is a great gemstone for engagement rings and jewelry worn on daily basis.