In this article
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
July's stone is the ruby, which we call Yaqoot in Urdu and which Vedic astrology knows as Manik. No other birthstone has such a wide gap between a fine piece and a poor one, and one treatment in particular trips up a lot of buyers. So rather than a long essay, here is the checklist we run through ourselves when two rubies sit side by side on the tray.
First, what a ruby actually is
Ruby is red corundum. It is the same mineral as sapphire, and chromium gives it its colour. A strong, clean red that does not go too dark needs unusual conditions in the ground, which is why fine ruby turns up less often than fine sapphire of the same size. When corundum is lighter and pinkish, it is called pink sapphire, not ruby.
Check 1: colour
- The target is a vivid, pure red with a faint hint of blue. The trade has long called this "pigeon's blood".
- Be wary of stones that lean pink (worth less), lean brown, or are so dark they close up and go black indoors.
- Always look at it in daylight. Ruby fluoresces, so under a jeweller's spotlight it can look stunning and then disappoint you at home.
Check 2: what is inside
Fine needles of rutile, known as "silk", are normal in natural ruby and can even help show that a stone is natural. What you want to avoid is a crack running to the surface, or silk so thick that the stone turns milky and loses its transparency.
Check 3: treatment
Heating is normal. Most rubies are heated to improve colour and clarity. The result is permanent and the whole trade accepts it. An unheated ruby with good colour does sell at a premium, but a heated ruby is still a real ruby. It just has to be disclosed, and we state treatments wherever they are known.
Glass filling is something else entirely. Low-grade ruby that is badly cracked can be soaked in lead glass until it looks transparent and red. These stones get sold as ruby, often very cheaply, but they are fragile. The heat of a jeweller's torch, or even something as ordinary as lemon juice, can damage them, and they are worth only a small fraction of a heated ruby. If a big, clean, deep red stone seems like a bargain, this is usually why. Ask the seller straight out. For a serious purchase, get an independent lab report; our authenticity page explains what to ask.
Check 4: other look-alikes
Red glass, lab-grown ruby, garnet and red spinel all get sold as ruby from time to time. Lab-grown ruby tends to look flawless and intensely red. Glass may show round bubbles under a loupe. Any stone that seems too clean for its price is worth having tested.
Check 5: value
With ruby, colour and treatment status move the price far more than weight does. When you compare stones, compare their per-carat rate.
Living with a ruby
Ruby is 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond, so it is one of the very few coloured stones you can wear in a ring every day for decades. Warm soapy water and a soft brush are all it needs. The exception is a glass-filled or heavily cracked stone, which should be kept away from heat and ultrasonic cleaners. That alone is a good reason to know exactly what you have.
Ruby as a gift
In many cultures ruby stands for love and celebration, so it suits a July birthday, an anniversary or a bridal set. A small stone with really good colour will look richer than a large one that is dark or pinkish.
Manik and the Sun
In Pakistan, ruby often matters more for astrology than for its July link. In the Vedic navaratna it is Manik, the stone of the Sun (Surya), traditionally worn by Leo ascendants for confidence and authority, and it is chosen from the birth chart, not the birth month. Our gemstones by rashi page covers that side, and the birthstone guide covers the calendar list.
Buying a ruby from us
Each stone in our ruby collection is photographed as it is, weighed and priced individually, with known treatments stated. We deliver across Pakistan, starting with Karachi in 1 to 2 working days. You pay Cash on Delivery after checking the stone in front of the rider, and you can return it within 7 days if it is not right. For more depth, read understanding rubies.
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