About Ruby
Ruby is the red variety of corundum (aluminium oxide), coloured by chromium. Sapphire is the same mineral – any colour of corundum except red is called sapphire. Ruby's hardness of 9 makes it the second hardest natural gemstone after diamond.
The finest rubies come from Myanmar (Burma), where the legendary "pigeon's blood" ruby – a pure, vivid red with a slight blue fluorescence – originates. Thai, Mozambican, and Vietnamese rubies are also highly valued. The Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59-carat Burmese ruby, sold for $30 million in 2015.
Ruby Meaning & Symbolism
In Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj – "king of precious stones." Ancient Hindus believed that rubies enabled their owners to live in peace with their enemies. Warriors in Burma inserted rubies into their flesh before battle, believing it would make them invincible.
Ruby is the stone of passion, protection, and prosperity. It is associated with the heart chakra and the energy of the Sun. It energises and activates – bringing zeal, courage, and a warrior spirit. Ruby encourages you to "follow your bliss" and pursue your highest path with passion and commitment.
Healing Properties
Emotional
Ruby is energising and stimulating – it overcomes exhaustion and lethargy, imparting potency and vigour. It shields against psychic attack and transmutes negative energy. It promotes a positive and courageous state of mind, overcoming fear and doubt.
Spiritual
Ruby connects the Base chakra with the Heart, grounding love energy into the physical world. It encourages passion for life but never in a self-destructive way. It supports the manifestation of your highest ideals and brings spiritual wisdom.
History & Lore
Rubies were traded along the North Silk Road of China as early as 200 BC. In medieval Europe, ruby was seen as the stone of prophecy – it was believed to darken in colour when its owner was in danger. The Black Prince's Ruby in the British Imperial State Crown is actually a spinel, not a ruby – a common historical confusion.
How to Wear and Use Ruby
Ruby is corundum — the same mineral as sapphire, only red — and hardness 9 makes it one of the most practical stones here for daily wear. Only diamond beats it for scratch resistance.
Symbolically ruby is tied to vitality, passion and protection, and historically it was worn as a stone of action rather than kept in a box: warriors carried it into battle. If you want to follow the tradition, ruby is meant to be worn.
July Zodiac Signs and Their Stones
Cancer until 22 July, Leo from the 23rd. Ruby is traditionally the Leo stone and the correspondence is almost literal: Leo is ruled by the Sun and ruby carries solar, fiery associations. Cancer sits closer to moonstone and pearl, the stones of water and cycles.
Cancers born in July are often advised to pair ruby with moonstone, a combination considered balancing.
How to Cleanse and Charge Ruby
Natural ruby is chemically stable, and water, sunlight and salt leave it unharmed. One caveat matters, though: a large share of rubies on the market have been treated, usually heated, and inexpensive stones often have their fractures filled with lead glass. Those must not meet ultrasonic cleaners, steam or acids — the filler breaks down and the stone clouds.
If you do not know a stone's history, treat it as treated: soft cloth, cool water, no ultrasonic.
How to Spot a Fake Ruby
Synthetic rubies have been produced since the late nineteenth century and are chemically identical to natural stone. Under a loupe, flame-fusion synthetics give themselves away with curved growth lines and round bubbles, while natural ruby shows straight, angular colour zoning and fine rutile needles — the silk.
Glass is easier: warmer to the touch, easily scratched, and usually bubbled. And a large, richly red ruby at a modest price is almost certainly either glass or a heavily fracture-filled stone.
Questions People Ask
What is the birthstone for July?
Ruby, the red variety of corundum. It is the same mineral as sapphire — red corundum is called ruby, every other colour stays sapphire.
Can ruby go in water?
Natural ruby can, being hard and stable. But many inexpensive rubies have lead-glass-filled fractures, and those must avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and acids.
What is the difference between ruby and sapphire?
Only colour. Both are corundum. Red is called ruby; every other shade, including pink and blue, is sapphire.
How can I tell a natural ruby from a synthetic one?
Under a loupe, flame-fusion synthetics show curved growth lines and round bubbles. Natural ruby has straight angular colour zoning and fine needle-like inclusions.
Where to get Ruby
If you want to wear or work with Ruby as a physical stone, here are three forms commonly used.
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