Sedona Gem and Mineral Club

Gorgeous and historically coveted, Ruby derives from the Latin word meaning “red” – the color of love and passion and lifeblood! The finest color of the birthstone for July is a deep red with a hint of purple, called “pigeon’s blood” in the trade. A variety of the mineral corundum, ruby gets its color from trace amounts of the element chromium. The more chromium, the stronger the red. And it is second only to diamonds in hardness.

Mining began in ancient Myanmar and still produces rubies. Of late, Vietnam is another important source for this birthstone. Other important producers of include Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar.

Another fun fact: rubies and sapphires are chemically the same stone. They are both part of the corundum family, and according to the Gemological Institute of America, the jury is still out on where to draw the line. Some say rubies are red, sapphires are blue.

In ancient India, ruby was called the “king of precious stones” for its rarity, harness, beautify and believed powers. Burmese warriors believed it made them invincible in battle. Medieval Europeans maintained that rubies bestowed health, wisdom, wealth, and success in love.