July Birthstone: Ruby Meaning, Colour and Gift Ideas

What is the July Birthstone?

July babies, you got the red-hot one. The July birthstone is ruby, the fiery, glowing, impossible-to-ignore gem that ancient Sanskrit texts called ratnaraj, the "king of precious stones". Born in the height of summer, when the days are long and everything feels a little more alive, July could only ever have had a stone this bold.

This guide is our love letter to ruby as a birthstone: what it means, what colour it really is, the legends and treasures that surround it, and how to choose a piece for yourself or for the July soul you are shopping for. You can browse our handmade July birthstone jewellery any time the mood strikes.

July Birthstone at a Glance

Birthstone	Ruby
Colour	Red, from pinkish red to deep "pigeon's blood" crimson
Meaning	Passion, courage, love and confidence
Chakra	Heart and root
Mineral	Corundum, the same mineral as sapphire
Found in	Myanmar, Mozambique, Thailand, Sri Lanka
Mohs hardness	9
Zodiac	Cancer (21 June to 22 July) and Leo (23 July to 22 August)

What Colour is the July Birthstone?

The July birthstone colour is red, and ruby does red better than anything else on earth. Rubies range from a warm pinkish red to the most coveted shade of all, a deep, glowing crimson that gem dealers poetically call "pigeon's blood". The very best rubies, many from the Mogok valley in Myanmar, seem to glow from within as if there were a little ember trapped inside.

That glow is no illusion: rubies contain chromium, which makes many of them fluoresce red under sunlight. So when we say ruby is a fiery stone, we mean it quite literally.

July Birthstone Meaning

The July birthstone meaning is passion, courage and love. Ruby has been a symbol of the beating heart for thousands of years, and it sits with both the heart chakra and the root chakra: big love, with your feet firmly on the ground. It is the stone we reach for when we need to feel brave, bold and fully alive.

Warriors once wore ruby into battle for courage, and lovers have exchanged it as a promise of devotion. Either way, it is a stone that says: go on, be magnificent. For the full story of its symbolism and spiritual meaning, wander over to our in-depth guide to ruby meaning, symbolism and properties.

The History of Ruby: The King of Gems

Ruby has been crowned, coveted and fought over for a very long time.

• In ancient India, ruby was called ratnaraj, "king of precious stones", and was offered to the god Krishna.
• Burmese warriors are said to have set rubies into their skin, believing it would make them invincible in battle.
• Medieval Europeans believed ruby protected its wearer and could warn of danger by darkening in colour.
• Some of history's most famous "rubies", including the Black Prince's Ruby in the British Imperial State Crown, turned out to be spinel, a red gem that was only told apart from ruby a couple of hundred years ago.
• In 2015 the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59-carat Burmese stone, sold at auction for more than 30 million US dollars, making it one of the most expensive coloured gems ever sold.

Ruby is one of the four precious gems, alongside diamond, emerald and sapphire, and it is the traditional gift for a 40th wedding anniversary.

Why is Ruby the Birthstone for July?

Ruby's fiery red has always been linked with the sun, heat and the heart, which made it a natural fit for the hottest, brightest month of the year. When jewellers drew up the modern birthstone list in 1912, ruby was named as July's one and only stone, and it has kept its crown ever since.

Ruby Alternatives for July

If you love the colour and energy of the July birthstone but fancy something a little different, there are some gorgeous stones to explore.

• Ruby in zoisite: also called anyolite, this is real ruby growing inside green zoisite, a wild, earthy mix of pink-red and forest green. Our small ruby in zoisite wolf necklace is one of our favourite pieces. Browse all our ruby in zoisite jewellery.
• Carnelian: a glowing orange-red stone of creativity and motivation, with the same warm, sunny energy. Read our carnelian guide.
• Garnet: a deep red stone of passion and commitment, and the January birthstone.

July Birthstones and the Zodiac

July is shared by two signs. Tender, home-loving Cancer (21 June to 22 July) is drawn to ruby's warmth and its connection to the heart. Bold, sun-ruled Leo (23 July to 22 August) and ruby are practically made for each other: both love a little drama and a lot of sparkle. For more star-sign pairings, have a read of our guide to gemstone jewellery for your zodiac sign.

How to Wear and Care for Your July Birthstone

Ruby is one of the toughest gems there is. At 9 on the Mohs scale, only diamond is harder, so it is ideal for jewellery you want to wear every day.

• Clean it simply. Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush or cloth are all it needs.
• Store it on its own. Ruby is hard enough to scratch softer stones, so keep it in its own pouch.
• Go gently with ruby in zoisite. Zoisite is much softer than ruby, so treat carved pieces with a little extra care.

To keep its energy glowing too, see our guide to cleansing your crystals. Ruby loves a little sunshine to recharge.

July Birthstone Jewellery and Gift Ideas

A July birthday comes with long golden evenings and strawberries for pudding, and a ruby gift has that same feeling of summer at its very best. Here are a few of our favourites.

• Our mini ruby heart necklace is a tiny faceted heart of fiery red ruby on recycled sterling silver or 9ct gold. Mini in size, mighty in passion.
• For a delicate, everyday July birthstone necklace, our ruby vegan silk necklace is a tiny drop of red on a whisper-light thread.
• For something with a little more drama, our rainbow moonstone, ruby and black onyx hand knotted beaded necklace balances light and dark beautifully.
• Wild at heart? Our ruby in zoisite wolf joins the rest of the pack in our wolf necklaces.
• Looking for a July birthstone ring or simply want to see everything? Explore the full July birthstone jewellery collection and our ruby jewellery, or browse our gift ideas and gift vouchers.

Every piece is cleansed, energy infused, vegan and cruelty free, and 5% of all proceeds go to Pacific Wild to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest.

July Birthstone FAQs

What is the birthstone for July?

The birthstone for July is ruby, the red variety of the mineral corundum.

What colour is the July birthstone?

Red. Ruby ranges from pinkish red to a deep crimson known as "pigeon's blood".

What does the July birthstone mean?

Ruby stands for passion, courage, love and confidence. It is linked with the heart and root chakras.

Does July have more than one birthstone?

Ruby is the only modern birthstone for July. Carnelian and ruby in zoisite are popular alternatives.

What is the difference between ruby and sapphire?

They are the same mineral, corundum. Red corundum is ruby and every other colour is sapphire, the September birthstone.

What is the birthstone for Cancer and Leo?

Ruby suits both. It is the birthstone for July-born Cancerians and Leos alike.

Can I wear ruby every day?

Yes. Ruby is a 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond, so it is one of the most hard-wearing gems you can choose.

Explore More Birthstones

Shopping for another month? See every stone in our guide to birthstone jewellery by month, read about June's moonstone or August's peridot, or lose yourself in our A-Z crystal guide.