10 of Our Favorite Rubies for July Birthdays

With a deep red color that mirrors fire and evokes passion, the ruby is a powerfully emotive gem. Its name comes from the Latin word “ruber,” meaning red, and in Sanskrit it is referred to as “king of precious stones,” a role that the ruby has firmly inhabited for centuries. First mined in central Burma (now Myanmar) more than 1,400 years ago, rubies have since been unearthed in Cambodia, Tanzania, and on the island of Madagascar. Whether it was ancient Burmese warriors covering their bodies with the red stone before battle for protection or European royalty seeking to affix it to their every crown and scepter, rubies have always captured the human imagination. Today, demand for high-quality rubies has driven their auction prices to new heights.