July birthstone

July birthstone: Ruby

The July birthstone is Ruby. The red variety of the mineral corundum, colored by chromium. One of the most durable gems.

Ruby

The red variety of the mineral corundum, colored by chromium. One of the most durable gems.

Colors: Vivid, pure red is most important; "Pigeon's blood" red with blue undertones is the most prized; Thai rubies are often darker with brownish undertones
Mohs hardness: 9
Everyday wear: Great for everyday rings
Found in: Myanmar (Burma), Mozambique, Thailand
Anniversary: 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries

Royalty and warriors wore rubies as symbols of protection, strength and victory.

The right piece depends on how tough the stone is. These suggestions follow GIA's hardness and toughness notes for each stone.

Stone	Best as	Why
Ruby	Any piece, including an everyday ring	Hard and tough enough for a ring worn every day, as well as pendants, earrings and bracelets.

For a mom: a pendant or bracelet with each child's birthstone. Mix tougher stones with delicate ones only in pendants.
For a partner: stud earrings or a simple pendant in her own stone are easy to wear with anything.
Before you buy: ask whether the stone has been treated, and get it in writing. Treatments change how a stone should be cleaned.

Before the US list was standardized in 1912, the traditional stones for July were: Turquoise, onyx. How the list changed.

Ruby: warm soapy water: safe; ultrasonic: usually safe for untreated, heated and lattice diffusion treated stones; not for filled or dyed stones; steam: usually safe for untreated, heated and lattice diffusion treated stones; not for filled or dyed stones. Details

What is the July birthstone?

Ruby. The red variety of the mineral corundum, colored by chromium. One of the most durable gems.

What color is the July birthstone?

Ruby: vivid, pure red is most important.

Is the July birthstone durable?

Ruby is 9 on the Mohs scale (great for everyday rings).

Sources: American Gem Society: Birthstones, GIA: The Beauty of Birthstones, and the GIA care guide and AGS overview for each stone (linked on its page). Checked October 16, 2026.