The Color of Love: The Ruby's 800-Year Story
A line from one of my favorite songs says, "You'll never find a ruby in a mountain of rocks." Yet for more than 800 years, the mountainous Mogok region of Myanmar - known as the "Valley of Rubies" - has produced some of the world's most extraordinary gemstones. Myanmar is still regarded as the source of many of the finest rubies ever discovered, including the highly prized "pigeon's blood" rubies celebrated for their rich, vibrant red color.
There is a reason that red stops people in their tracks - and a reason the ruby has carried a single, unchanging meaning for thousands of years.
Why the Ruby Has Always Belonged to Love
Throughout history, the ruby has been known as the gemstone of love, passion, and devotion. Ancient cultures believed rubies held the power to ignite romance, strengthen relationships, and protect the heart. Their fiery red - the color of blood and life itself - made them symbols of deep affection and enduring commitment. Royals, warriors, and lovers alike treasured rubies, believing they brought courage, prosperity, and happiness.
That red is not sentiment alone - it is chemistry. The finest rubies get their color from a trace of chromium, and the most prized stones come from places where the earth is rich in chromium and low in iron. That rare balance is what creates the celebrated "pigeon's blood" red: a vivid, slightly fluorescent crimson that seems to glow from within. Mogok rubies are also admired for their delicate "silk" - microscopic rutile needles that scatter light through the stone, giving it that soft, velvety glow collectors prize.
A note for collectors: Untreated Mogok rubies of fine color and clarity are among the most valuable gemstones in the world - the 25.59-carat Sunrise Ruby sold for over $30 million at Sotheby's Geneva in 2015. You don't need a record-breaker, though, to wear a stone with the same lineage.
Wearing a Ruby Today
Today, rubies remain one of the most meaningful gemstones exchanged between loved ones. Whether given as an anniversary gift, set into an engagement ring, or worn as a quiet symbol of affection, a ruby's beauty carries a message that doesn't need words.
Ruby Earrings: A Pop of Passion
A pair of rubies near the face adds instant warmth - they flatter every skin tone and bring color to a smile. Studs are an easy, classic way to give July's birthstone, and they layer beautifully with any ruby pieces you might collect over time.
Our Ruby Earrings pair 3.5mm round bezel-set rubies with 14-karat white gold and a friction-back post - a clean, modern setting that lets the ruby's color do the talking. They're the kind of piece you can wear on a Tuesday and at a 40th-anniversary dinner.
Ruby Pendants and Necklaces: Wearing Your Heart Close
There's a reason a red stone resting near the heart feels so right. A ruby pendant draws the eye and warms a neckline like nothing else, and it carries its meaning quietly all day long - at the office, at brunch, at a summer wedding.
We carry a rotating selection of ruby and colored-stone pendants in our colored stone necklaces and pendants case at J. Thomas Jewelers - including designer pieces from Dee Berkley, Fana, and others when they're available. Stop in to see what's currently in the case.
Ruby Rings: A Flash of Red on Your Hand
If a necklace keeps a ruby close to the heart, a ring keeps it right where you'll see it - a little flash of red every time you reach for someone's hand. Ruby-and-diamond combinations are especially beloved for anniversary gifts: warm red against bright white sparkle is a contrast that simply doesn't go out of style.
Browse ruby and ruby-and-diamond pieces in our color gemstone rings collection, or come in and we'll help you design something custom for an anniversary, an engagement, or a milestone worth marking in red.
July's Birthstone - Love's Official Color
It is no coincidence that the ruby is also July's birthstone. Summer is the season of warmth and connection, and the ruby answers it with a color that feels alive. It's the traditional gift for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries - a way to say "still, and always" - and a meaningful choice for a summer birthday or a July engagement.
A ruby is one of the hardest gemstones there is, second only to the diamond. That toughness is part of its romance: this is a stone built to be worn, handed down, and loved for a lifetime. Its color does not fade. Its meaning does not either.
True love, like the finest ruby, is rare, enduring, and worth cherishing for a lifetime.
See the Color of Love in Person
A ruby's true color is something a photo can only hint at - that glow, that depth, that flash of red has to be seen in the light and held in your hand. Our team at J. Thomas Jewelers in Rochester Hills would love to show you our ruby pieces in person - and we're always happy to bring in a special piece, or design something custom, that fits the story you're celebrating.
Schedule an appointment with our team, or simply stop by. At J. Thomas, we make love rock.