Birthstone: July

Ruby: Ruby is one of the most coveted of gems. The name is derived from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red” – the color of love and passion. 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.