Ruby: The Birthstone for Lucky July Babies and a Perfect Fit for a Claddagh
Written by Gemma on Jun. 24, 2026 | 0 Comments
Many associate Ireland with emerald, and our lovely emerald rings are indeed popular.
Our Claddagh Celtic Trilogy ring, set with a choice of natural ruby, sapphire or emerald.
But we've seen ruby grow in popularity in the last few years, and it's really not hard to see why. Read on to find out more about ruby, the “King of Precious Stones”, and why it's the perfect stone to set in a Claddagh Ring.
Ruby: For July babies and anniversaries
Ruby is the rich and fiery birthstone for July babies. It's also the gemstone typically associated with happy couples marking their 40th wedding anniversary. Not surprisingly, this stone has also been a favorite for incorporating into stunning and spectacular jewelry for millennia.
The enormous "ruby" that adorns the Imperial crown of the United Kingdom. This impressive stone is actually a different mineral called spinel, but ruby was so desirable for centuries that any red gemstone was given its name for a time.
If it’s not red, it’s not ruby!
So ruby essentially owned the color red for gemstones, and it's hardly surprising that this made it a hugely popular choice for jewelry. Red is the color associated with our strongest emotions, including love and passion.
And while not all red gemstones are ruby... if a gemstone isn't red, it is definitely not ruby! This precious gemstone is a type of corundum, which must be at least 51% red to be classified as a ruby. Any corundum less than 50% red is known by another name: sapphire!
Two beautiful types of corundum. One blue sapphire and one red ruby
Photo Credit: Grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
When you add its rarity, extreme durability, and its seemingly otherworldly ability to “flame” to this desirable color, it's little wonder that rubies are so prized!
Ruby: A Mythical gemstone
The glowing red color of ruby led many to believe it housed an inextinguishable flame, able to boil water if dropped in a vessel. Ancient Hindus offered fine rubies to the god Krishna to be granted rebirth as emperors, while warriors in Myanmar inserted rubies into their flesh to make themselves invincible in battle. (For the record, we do not endorse this particular practice!)
Stunning heart-shaped ruby with that characteristic glow!
Photo Credit: My Irish Jeweler
Ruby: A Modern Treasure
Since then, rubies have lost none of their allure. Ruby slippers protected Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and are still one of the most sought-after gems for royalty and collectors who can afford their hefty price tag.
Photo Credit: David (CC BY 2.0 )
Ruby: A Romantic Gift
As a symbol of love and passion, ruby can't be beaten for a romantic gift or a striking engagement ring. And it seems many are opting for something a little different, as our stunning ruby engagement rings are increasing in popularity.
Photo Credit: My Irish Jeweler
Ruby: Perfect match for the Claddagh
Ruby is a perfect match for the symbolism of the Claddagh. Their strong association with passion and love works seamlessly with the love, loyalty, and friendship represented by the Claddagh.
Photo Credit: My Irish Jeweler
Ruby Irish Jewelry
Whether it's a birthday, anniversary or engagement gift a Ruby ring is deeply invested with significance.
July birthstone jewelry
With high demand and scarcity, fine rubies can be out of reach for all but the most significant of occasions, like engagements and anniversaries.
Happily, July babies need not break the bank to sport fiery birthstone pieces. Lab-created stones are a beautiful and more budget-friendly alternative to those looking to add some July “fire” to their jewelry collection. Check out our extensive range of July Birthstone jewelry here.
Photo Credit: My Irish Jeweler
This lovely July birthstone Claddagh ring is a favorite with Love, Loyalty and Friendship engraved inside the band.
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Gemma
My Irish Jeweler
Gemma is our head jeweler. She is very passionate about jewelry and watches. Her favorite style is Tree of Life "because family and roots are so important to me".
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