July Birthstones
What does the July Birthstone Mean?
The name Ruby comes from the Latin word, ‘Ruber’, meaning Red.
The symbolism of the July Birthstone
As history would have it, rubies adorned Kings, the heads of warrior tribes and political rulers. They believed that it would enhance their leadership skills and power of decision-making. Today, the stone is believed to aid wearers in making important decisions in life, particularly financial decisions, although you certainly must be in a situation of financial prosperity to acquire rubies. So maybe the correlation is merely coincidence…
Moving on… In the Hindu culture, the July birthstone was associated with Power, Passion, and Protection. The ruby was also believed to have healing properties and it used to improve blood circulation. The belief entails, however, the one must not wear a ruby anywhere close to the Solar Plexus as the stone has adverse effects on the area. The blood-red stone is said to symbolize strength, vitality, confidence, leadership, and courage. The wearer of a red ruby associates one’s self with great passion and love. This link to love and passion derives from the ancient Hindus name for the July birthstone, which was “Rangapura” (or the King of Gems). They believed the stone radiated its warmth and luminosity from an internal flame. Because of this lore, the Ruby has been identified as the perfect gift for ardent lovers since its discovery about 2,000 years ago.
Interestingly, the Ruby and Sapphire are from the same gemstone family, Corundum, the only difference being their color. The Sapphire is Blue, the green Sapphire is Emerald and the Ruby, of course, is red. Rubies are considered one of the four precious stones, along with emerald, diamond, and sapphire.
Characteristics of The July Birthstone, Ruby
Color
The Ruby is a gemstone from the Corundum family that naturally occurs as a red or pink stone or with various shades of red. In the United state, however, a minimum color saturation must be met to qualify the stone as a Ruby. If these qualifications aren’t met, the stone is referred to as a Pink Sapphire. As a result of the difficulty in making a distinction between a Pink sapphire and ruby, trade organizations like the International Colored Gemstone Association has adopted the broader definition for the Ruby, which encompasses the pink stones as well.
Origin
The Mogok district in Burma is rich with large, blood red rubies. The stones are of a purple-red hue, a color that earns the Ruby the name, ‘Pigeon’s Blood’. Myanmar, Thailand, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Tanzania, Australia, and the United States are other sources of the Ruby.
Healing Power
The ruby is believed to have many healing properties. The stone is associated with the Sun and was believed by the ancients to preserve the physical and mental health of an individual. In the Middle Ages, the stone was thought to have prophetic powers, darkening when danger was imminent. Ivan the Terrible, Russian despot, believed that the ruby was good for the heart, brain, and memory. Sources reveal a thirteenth-century prescription to cure liver problems with powered ruby. Rubies were believed to purge the body of toxins, restore youth and vitality when rubbed on the skin.
Physically, rubies are believed to energize and bring balance to the body, stimulate the heart Chakra and spur a passion for life. Emotionally, the stone is believed to motivate the wearer to achieve goals, acquire leadership skills and amass wealth. Few believe the ruby is the stone of love and passion and enhances sexual activity.
Original post: BirthstoneZodiac.com
Value Of Rubies
The ruby was, and is, considered the stone of love, passion, energy and power. The wearer historically, possesses a zest for life and an attribute besides fire that is used to tie one’s life force in this stone that increases vigor, is blood. Rubies are one of the world’s four precious stones and are strongly tied to earthly qualities and power.
Go ahead, give your loved one the the July Birthstone. The gift of a Ruby is sure to heighten your relationship 🙂
Answer: The famous children’s movie, “The Wizard of OZ” featured Dorothy with blood red ruby shoes. According to sources, the casting director was infatuated with the gem and wanted it in his movie.
Check out our birthstone jewelry guide, for more information.