7月の誕生石(ルビー&スフェーン)

July birthstone (ruby & sphene)


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Ruby is the representative red stone and one of the five major gemstones.
Sphene has an attractive brilliance comparable to that of diamonds

ルビースフェーン
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Gemstone Name Ruby Sphene
Mineral Name corundum Titanite
Japanese name Ruby Titanite, wedgestone
Origin of the name It comes from the Latin "rubeus" which means red. The name comes from the Greek word "Sphenos" (wedge) because the crystals resemble a wedge.
color red Green to yellowish green to brown
Mohs hardness 9 5.0-5.5
Origin Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, etc. Pakistan, Madagascar, Russia, etc.
Stone meaning Passion, compassion, dignity Eternal
effect Protects you from danger and disasters and leads you to victory Peace of mind, opening up your life and leading to success
Maintenance Add mild detergent to lukewarm water and clean with a brush/Ultrasonic cleaning Wash gently with warm water, mild detergent and a soft brush
others Unheated, Myanmar (Burma) pigeon blood is traded at a high price. Corundum other than red becomes sapphire. It is characterized by a strong sparkle caused by fire. Those that are green rather than brown and have a strong sparkle are considered to be of high quality.

The birthstone for July is the passionate red ruby.60th birthday celebrationIt is popular as a gemstone, but it is also the zodiac stone for Aries and Leo, and is designated as the ruby ​​wedding stone for the 40th wedding anniversary.
The other is sphene, which was newly designated at the end of 2021. It has a yellow, yellow-green, and brown color with glitter trapped inside.Sparkling SparkleIt is attractive and has been gaining popularity in recent years.
This time, we will introduce the birthstones for July.

▼If you want to know more about other birthstones, click here

1.Ruby

Ruby Characteristics

ルビーRuby is the most representative red gemstone, and its Japanese name is "kogyoku." Its mineral name is corundum, and it has a Mohs hardness of 9, making it a perfect gemstone for jewelry.
Sapphires are also made from the mineral corundumHowever, only the red ones are called "ruby". Usually, they are heat-treated to bring out their beautiful color, but there are no beautiful rubies without it.No heatThe ones with a vivid, deep red color and shine are sold on the market asPigeon Bloodand is traded at a high price.
The main producing areas are Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc. Among them, Burmese rubies are characterized by their deep red color, similar to pigeon blood.


Origin of Ruby

The name ruby ​​comes from the Latin "rubeus," which means red.
In the past, red gemstones were called rubies, and it is well known that the Black Prince's Ruby, the crown jewel of the British Empire, was actually a spinel. There have also been other instances where what was thought to be a ruby ​​was actually a garnet, and it has a history of being mistaken for various other gemstones.


The effect of ruby

The stone's word is "Passion, compassion, dignity"
Speaking of Ruby,passionIt is famous as a gemstone that represents passion. The red color is like a burning passion from within. It attracts people.
Ruby has been treasured as a talisman that attracts victory since ancient times, and it is said that powerful people in the past wore ruby ​​as a gemstone that brings power and wealth. It is recommended for those who wish for success in love, those who are moving forward toward their goals, and those who want to spend their time passionately.


Caring for your Ruby

Rubies are known as one of the hardest stones, with a Mohs hardness of 9. Don't worry about it, use them as much as you like. However, they are softer than diamonds, so try to avoid storing them with other jewelry as much as possible.
When cleaning, fill a cup with lukewarm water and add a small amount of neutral detergent (dishwashing detergent). Then, dip a soft brush (such as a toothbrush with soft bristles) in the detergent and gently tap the stone to clean it. If you scrub the stone, the prongs that hold the stone in place may come loose, so it is important to wash it by tapping it. When you're done washing, rinse it off with lukewarm water.
We also recommend using an ultrasonic cleaner to remove any fine dirt.


Houjudo also has a wide selection of ruby ​​jewelry. Please check out their website.
▼ Ruby jewelry is here



Hojudo is a jewelry shop located in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
We have about 1,500 pieces of jewelry on display, including diamonds, pearls, and colored stones, which you can touch and look at. As a jewelry specialty store that originated as a wholesaler, we offer reasonable prices, less than half the market price. We do not pressure you to buy anything, so please feel free to come and visit us.
Of course, you can also purchase it online, so don't worry.

Free consultation and estimate
Make a reservation >
First, ask by email
Contact Us >




2.Sphene

Characteristics of Sphene

スフェーンIt was not well known originally, but it has become popular since it was designated as the birthstone for July in 2021. The secret to its popularity is, without a doubt, its iridescent sparkle (fire). As a gemstone, it is green to brown in color, but it sparkles as brightly as a diamond, and once you see it, it will be etched into your memory.
Stones that are green rather than brown, highly transparent, and have a strong sparkle are considered to be of high quality.
The mineral's name is titanite. Its Japanese name is also called titanite. It is also called wedge stone because its crystals resemble wedges.
Sphene itself is mined all over the world, but high-quality sphene for jewelry use is only found in a few limited areas, such as Pakistan, Madagascar and Russia.


Origin of Sphene

The crystals resemble a wedge in shape, hence the name "Sphenos" which means "wedge" in Greek.
*Wedge = a sharp V-shaped piece of wood or iron


The effect of sphene

The stone's word is "Eternal"
Sphene has the meaning of moving forward positively without losing your identity. It will help you to open up your life and lead you to success.
This is the perfect gemstone for those who want to live strong and true to themselves.


Caring for your Sphene

Although sphene has a rainbow-colored sparkle like a diamond, it is a very soft gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5. It will break if it comes into contact with other gemstones, so be sure to store it separately.
When cleaning, fill a cup with lukewarm water and add a small amount of neutral detergent (dishwashing detergent). Then, dip a soft brush (such as a toothbrush with soft bristles) in the detergent and gently tap the stone to clean it. If you scrub the stone, the prongs that hold the stone in place may come loose, so it is important to wash it by tapping it. Once you have finished washing, rinse the sphene with lukewarm water.


Houjudo also has a wide selection of sphene jewelry. Please check out their website.
▼Click here for sphene jewelry



Hojudo is a jewelry shop located in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
We have about 1,500 pieces of jewelry on display, including diamonds, pearls, and colored stones, which you can touch and look at. As a jewelry specialty store that originated as a wholesaler, we offer reasonable prices, less than half the market price. We do not pressure you to buy anything, so please feel free to come and visit us.
Of course, you can also purchase it online, so don't worry.

Free consultation and estimate
Make a reservation >
First, ask by email
Contact Us >