The Ruby: July’s Birthstone and So Much More...

Rubies are considered precious gemstones, because they are fairly rare to find. The color of rubies tends to vary from shades of pink to red, with the darker and redder ones as the rarest and therefore, the most prized. Gemstone Ruby jewelry is just as varied; you can find anything from rings to necklaces featuring the stone.

All about Rubies

A ruby gets its color from an element called chromium. Chromium in its natural state is a silver-colored metal, but its mineral presence in the gemstone causes it to turn red. Rubies are almost as hard as diamonds, and have a number of industrial uses, including in lasers, but are best known as jewelry. The ruby is the birthstone for those born in the month of July, and the gemstone is known to have healing properties that affect the bloodstream. The stone can be mined in many places around the world – it has even been found in the United States – but the best come from Myanmar, the Republic of Macedonia, Kenya and Thailand.

Ruby Necklaces and Bracelets

Ruby jewelry comes in many different styles, depending on the size of the stone. Small rubies can be used as accents in a pendant or bracelet, alongside diamonds and other precious gemstones. Larger ones can stand on their own, as proved by their solitary presence in pendants of various sizes. These pendants are set in either 14K gold, platinum or silver. The price of them depends on two factors: the quality of the ruby (the darker the red and fewer the inclusions the better) and the type of metal that they are set in.

Ruby Rings and Earrings

The same is true for ruby rings, which can be a great alternative to the traditional diamond engagement ring. In fact, it is not unusual to see both diamonds and rubies placed into a platinum or gold setting. In these cases, either the ruby is the large stone at the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds, or they are in the opposite order. Both are stunning, and make for an excellent anniversary, birthday or holiday gift. Ruby earrings can come in two different styles: as ruby studs, which are smaller than the earlobes, or set into metal and left dangling for the world to see. No matter which type of ruby earring you choose, they are sure to help you stand out amongst the crowd.

How to Wear Ruby Jewelry

A ruby necklace or ring can easily stand out against an all-black outfit. For example, wearing a black pantsuit (or even black leggings with a matching top) will emphasize the red in the stone. The same is true for the color white. However, ruby jewelry can be worn with just about everything – from skinny jeans and flats to an evening gown and heels. Men can even get away with a subtle ruby ring or pair of cufflinks – this gemstone truly is versatile! 

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Show off your "sparkle" with gemstone jewelry

What’s your favorite color? Is it blue, green or red? Maybe purple or yellow? No matter what – you’ll find a piece of gemstone jewelry in that color; it may be a stunning bracelet, a necklace, a ring, or a pair of earrings, but the choice exists. Gemstones appear in every color of the rainbow, and many have important meanings – some memorable, like birthstones, others more spiritual, such as “strength” or “peace.”

Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds

Each of this trio of vividly colored stones are the most popular, and are the first thing to come to mind when one hears the words "gemstone jewelry". They appear in all different types of jewelry, from bracelets to rings. Some even appear alongside each other, resulting in a brightly colored masterpiece for your wrist, neck or hand.

All three of these gemstones are also birthstones: rubies for July, sapphires for September and emeralds for May. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to the stone that represents your birthday; if you like red, wear ruby earrings; prefer blue, put on a sapphire bracelet; think green matches your eyes, choose an emerald necklace.

Peridot, Citrine, Garnet and Topaz

All four of these stones: peridot, citrine, garnet and topaz, have meanings beyond those of birthstones. Peridot, which are usually yellowish-green in color, are said to have healing properties, while yellow citrine can regenerate and cleanse. Garnets and topaz (the former a deep red stone, the latter a golden yellow or sometimes blue) have healing properties as well. Whether or not this is true is up to you, but what does matter is that they make great gemstone jewelry and are commonly found in rings and earrings.

Opals, Pearls and Quartz

Supposedly, it’s bad luck to wear opal jewelry if it’s not your birthstone (which is October, for the record.) However, if you like their iridescent beauty and don’t believe in that type of luck, then look for opal rings or earrings to add to your gemstone jewelry collection. Pearls are also slightly iridescent, as are certain types of quartz. Both can be found in necklaces and bracelets.

Tanzanite, Tourmaline, and Amethyst

Tanzanite is a fairly rare stone that comes in a striking shade of bluish-purple. They are usually found in gemstone rings. The same is true of tourmaline and amethyst –maroon and lavender stones, respectively. All three are birthstones (in order: December, October and February) and they each make a statement, regardless of what type of jewelry they are set into.

No matter the types of gemstone jewelry you prefer, wear them with pride. They make great accents to any outfit, and can go from day to night with ease. With so many different gemstones to choose from, you’ll have no trouble at all finding the right ones for your budget or style. Please visit http://www.24diamonds.com/gemstone-jewelry/ for a rich gemstone jewelry selection!