Ruby is the July birthstone and it’s one of the most coveted gems. The name is derived from the Latin word ruber, meaning red, the color of love and passion. Few things catch the eye like the ruby birthstone. The finest color of the this birthstone is a deep red with a hint of purple, it’s called “pigeon’s blood” in the trade. A variety of the mineral corundum, ruby gets its color from trace amounts of the element chromium. The more chromium, the stronger the color red.
