The birthstone for July is the ruby. The ruby is commonly considered the “king” of gemstones and is believed to carry good fortune.
Rubies come from the mineral, corundum – which also forms sapphires. The difference is their color. The name “Ruby” comes from the Latin word “ruber” which means “red” representing the vibrant color of the gemstone.
What is the July birthstone color?
The July birthstone color is red. Rubies range from a light pink to deep crimson in color, depending on where they are mined.
Corundum comes in blue and red varieties; the red variety is considered a ruby, the blue – a sapphire. Since corundum comes in all different colors of the rainbow, ones that have too much purple, pink, or other colors that overpower the red, are not considered rubies.
Where can the July birthstone be found?
Ruby can be found in many different countries; Burma, Sri Lanka, United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Australia, India, Brazil, and Cambodia.
The finest rubies are found in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and Thailand. Myanmar rubies have a red color that is commonly described as “pigeon’s blood.” Thailand rubies have a deeper, more burgundy-red color.
What is the largest ruby found?
The world’s largest ruby is the 125 West Ruby which weighs 8.2 pounds or 18,696 carats and is certified by the Gemological Institute of America. There is also another July birth stone that is not certified yet, but is reported to have been found in Myanmar and weighs 21,450 carats.
The Chaiyo Ruby is another July birthstone that could be the largest ruby found, but there are claims that it is fake. It weighs 109,000 carats but is believed to have been manufactured by the Burmese.