Birth Month

July

July 1 – July 31 · Water (Cancer period); Fire (Leo period from July 23) · Moon (Cancer), Sun (Leo from July 23)

Traditional BirthstoneRuby (in ancient Hindu, Hebrew, Burmese, and nearly all traditions); also Onyx (in some medieval European lists)

Modern BirthstoneRuby

ElementWater (Cancer period); Fire (Leo period from July 23)

Ruling PlanetMoon (Cancer), Sun (Leo from July 23)

Associated crystals

RubyOpen in the Dictionary CarnelianOpen in the Dictionary OnyxOpen in the Dictionary SapphireOpen in the Dictionary GarnetOpen in the Dictionary

Associated herbs

RosemaryOpen in the Dictionary HyssopOpen in the Dictionary YarrowOpen in the Dictionary SageOpen in the Dictionary MarigoldOpen in the Dictionary

Source Tradition

Ruby is another point of complete agreement between traditional and modern lists. In Exodus 28, the 'odem' (ruby or carnelian) is the first stone of Aaron's breastplate—the stone of Reuben, the firstborn. The Hindu Navaratna places ruby (manikya) as the Sun's gem, the most important of the nine. Ancient Burmese warriors implanted rubies under their skin for invincibility in battle. The 1912 Jewelers of America list confirmed ruby for July, unchanged through all subsequent revisions.

Exodus 28:17; Hindu Navaratna tradition; George Frederick Kunz, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, 1913; Jewelers of America, 1912—Traditional and modern lists agreeExplore sourcing notes in the Appendix