July has arrived and it is time to take a peek at the July birthstone...ruby! Many people do not know this, but ruby and sapphire are the same gemstones. They are both members of the chromium mineral species. Their difference in color derives from the metals and impurities found within each stone, so essentially a ruby is a red sapphire. Pretty cool fact!
Rubies have been treasured for thousands of years due to their romantic, passionate, and exciting red colors. Kings and queens have worn the gem in various ways as a representation of their power and dominance. It is a stone that has been mentioned in the Bible as well as other ancient texts. Ruby is one of the four precious gemstones with the other three being sapphire, emerald, and diamond. All other gemstones are known as semi-precious.
