Month by month gems beginning with July...Ladies and Gentleman it's the timeless Ruby!

As we all know, Bohemian Butterfly is big on stones. We've had many clients and friends ask us recently about their birthstones and we have decided to give a monthly post about the stone of the month. As it is July we will be starting with the stunning Ruby.

The gleaming ruby should adorn,

All those who in July are born,

For thus they'll be exempt and free,

From lover's doubts and anxiety.

-Gregorian Birthstone Poem

Rubies have always been held in high esteem in Asian countries. In ancient Sanskrit, Ruby is called Ratnaraj which means king of precious stones.They were used to ornament armor, scabbards, and harnesses of noblemen in India and China. Rubies were laid beneath the foundation of buildings to secure good fortune to the structure. In the middle ages, the Ruby was viewed as a stone of prophecy. People believed it would darken when its wearer was in danger. Rubbed on the skin, these gemstones were once thought to restore youth and vitality.

The classic Ruby is a deep, rich red, although the stone can appear in shades from pink to purple to brown. Rubies are second only to diamonds in terms of hardness, which along with the vibrancy of their colour, makes them highly prized for jewellery.

As always, Bohemian Butterfly is able to customise any piece of jewellery to suit your needs and we are always happy to custom make designs for you.

Hopefully, those of you who are born in the month of July have found this to be informative and interesting. Look out for next months stone....Peridot!

Images courtesy of www.christies.com and www.berkeleygems.com