If your birthday is in July, then your Zodiac stone is the ruby!

Many people know that the diamond is the hardest substance on earth, but few people are aware that the ruby is the second hardest naturally occurring gemstone.

Rubies range in color from pink to blood red. They get their color from the element chromium. All natural rubies contain imperfections such as color impurities and infractions. There are various ways of cleaning up these imperfections – usually by heating the ruby and then cutting it.

When people think of rubies, the first thing to come to mind is The Wizard of Oz and Dorothy’s ruby slippers. But, much like the film, rubies are just as much for grown-ups as for kids.

Rubies tend to bring drama to a look. A single ruby surrounded by diamonds immediately draws the eye. A blood-red ruby pendant with a classic LBD (little black dress, for those of you whose fashion savvy is limited to jewelry) makes a statement – a classic beauty with a wild side.

Since rubies have such a bold hue, try using them to accent an understated outfit. In addition to a ruby pendant with the LBD, a silver cuff with a ruby inset would be a great complement to a crisp, white suit or a simple shift dress. Ruby earrings are a great way to take a simple black pencil skirt and a classic white blouse from simple to sophisticated. And a ruby brooch shaped like a ladybug would bring some style and character to even the simplest twinset.

You July Rubies out there are true gems! Keep your dramatic flair; keep wearing your hearts on your sleeves – and on your ears and your necks and your fingers.

Dramatically,
Olivia