Birthstones by Month > 6 Choices of July Birthstone

6 Choices of July Birthstone

What is the birthstone for July? As a matter of fact, the question is more correctly asked, what are the birthstones for July? There are in total six birthstones of July, the seventh month of the year. What are the different July birthstones? Here in this article we go over the 6 types of July birthstone.

Cut Ruby
Ruby the red precious stone
Source: Humanfeather via Wikimedia Commons

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July Birthstones

  • Modern: Ruby
  • Alternate-Britain: Carnelian
  • Traditional: Ruby, Turquoise & Onyx
  • Ancient: Ruby, Onyx, Sardonyx & Carnelian
  • Tibetan: Ruby
  • Indian: Sapphire

Ruby

The glowing ruby shall adorn,
Those who in July are born;
Then they’ll be exempt and free
From love’s doubts and anxiety.

— Gregorian birthstone poem

Ruby is the modern birthstone for July, both in the United States and Britain. Ruby was likewise a traditional birthstone of July, as well as the July birthstone from as far as back as the ancient Polish, Russian, Tibetan and old Hindu (Ayurvedic) calendar. This gemstone for July is the red variety of corundum, which in a different color would be otherwise called sapphire.

Ruby is a highly valuable gemstone, which is the reason the why this July gemstone remains among the 4 precious stones of the modern day. The July stone is traditionally believed to boost mental strength and reinforce courage. See also —

Orange Carnelian Ring
Orange Carnelian Ring

Carnelian

Carnelian has been designated as modern birthstone for July in Britain alongside ruby. Carnelian was also the July birthstone in the old Arabic calendar. Before the gemstone appeared in these calendars as the stone for July, carnelian was a zodiac stone for Leo, which falls partly on the month of July. This birthstone of July is the red variety of chalcedony. The July gemstone is believed to fuel passion and desire. See also Carnelian: Stone of Passion.

Black Onyx Necklace
Black Onyx Necklace

Onyx

Onyx is a traditional birthstone for July, and is the ancient July birthstone going back to the old Roman, Italian and Hebrew calendar. Before the gemstone materialized in these ancient calendars as the birthstone of July, onyx was the main zodiac stone for Leo, which falls partly on the month of July. This July gemstone is banded agate of black and white, but is most popularly known as the black variety of chalcedony. The July stone is a grounding stone believed to absorb negative energy. See also The Black Onyx: Stone of Power.

Sardonyx Necklace
Sardonyx Necklace

Sardonyx

Sardonyx is a birthstone for July in the old Russian calendar. Before the gemstone became the July birthstone in the ancient Russian calendar, sardonyx was a zodiac stone for Leo, which falls partly on the month of July. This gemstone for July is the variety of onyx occurring in bands of white and red. These bands are composed of white chalcedony and sard respectively, sard being the darker shade of carnelian. The July stone is believed to keep a person brave. See also Sardonyx: Stone of Valor.

Blue sapphire ring
A magnificent blue sapphire ring
Source: Stanislav Doronenko via Wikimedia Commons

Sapphire

Sapphire is the birthstone for July in the Hindu calendar. This July birthstone is precious corundum occurring in a variety of colors except red, which be otherwise called ruby. Sapphire is a highly valuable gemstone. This consistently high value keeps this July gemstone among the 4 precious stones of the modern age. The July stone is believed to bring inner peace and counteract depression.

Turquoise Necklace
Turquoise Necklace

Turquoise

Turquoise is also known as a traditional birthstone for July, though most popular as the December birthstone. Turquoise is a valuable, rare opaque stone ranging in color from green to blue. This July birthstone is believed to bring clarity of mind and spiritual discernment.

July Birthstone Color

What color is July birthstone? The choices of modern birthstones for July in Britain are indicative of the July stone color. The most popular modern, traditional, as well as ancient birthstone of July, ruby, is red in color. Carnelian, the alternate birthstone for July in Britain and the July gemstone in the ancient Arabic calendar, is also red. Therefore, it is apparent that the July birthstone color is red. This color is echoed in a stone for July in the Russian calendar, sardonyx, which has bands of red.

If a secondary color of July stone has to be identified, it would most likely be black, black being the color of onyx, the traditional gemstone for July from as far back as the old Roman, Italian and Hebrew calendar. If still another color has to be named a July gemstone color, it may likely be white, which is present in both onyx and sardonyx.

Turquoise, a traditional birthstone of July, is blue. Sapphire, the birthstone for July in the Hindu calendar, is most popularly blue. The two July stones add blue to the list of potential birthstone colors for July.

Surprising Discovery

In an extensive research on birthstones, I discovered that today’s July birthstone was born out of India’s culture. On the other hand, the original July stone was not an entirely red gem.

Get to know the real gemstone for July, as well as the magical powers of all birthstones, when you read my book Power Birthstone.

Power Birthstone

Learn about your birthstone and zodiac gems

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