Ruby for Men: What the Red Stone Means and How to Wear It

Ruby is red with a reputation. Kings set it in their crowns, warriors carried it into battle, and for well over two millennia it has been the stone of power and nerve. A single ruby pendant, necklace or bracelet is still one of the boldest things a man can wear, and one of the easiest to get right.

Here we cover what ruby really is, the red stones it gets mixed up with, what it has meant, and how to wear red without overdoing it.

One red stone, nothing else. Featured: Ruby Stone Pendant (Gold).

Jump to:

• What is ruby?
• What does ruby mean?
• Ruby, spinel or garnet?
• Why red works on men
• Natural ruby or a ruby-coloured stone?
• How to wear ruby
• Ruby pendants, necklaces and bracelets
• Ruby or coral: our other reds
• Ruby for July, the fortieth and Valentine's
• FAQs

What Is Ruby?

Ruby is the red form of a mineral called corundum. Corundum is colourless when it's pure; a trace of chromium in the crystal turns it red, and the more chromium, the deeper the colour. Every other colour of corundum is sold as sapphire, so ruby and sapphire are, in effect, the same stone in different shades.

It's also one of the hardest natural materials there is. At 9 on the Mohs scale, only diamond beats it. That's why fine rubies keep their sharp edges and polish for generations.

The name comes from ruber, Latin for red. For centuries the most prized stones came from the Mogok valley in Myanmar, and the finest shade of all, a pure red with a hint of blue, is still known in the trade as pigeon's blood. Today Mozambique, Thailand and Sri Lanka are major sources too.

Four claws, one deep red stone. Featured: Ruby Stone Pendant (Gold).

What Does Ruby Mean?

Ruby's meanings come straight from its colour: blood, fire and life. Take them as history and belief rather than anything a stone can guarantee.

Power and leadership

In ancient India ruby was called ratnaraj, roughly the ruler of precious stones, and it has sat in royal regalia from Asia to Europe ever since. It's the stone of people in charge, and of people who intend to be.

Courage

Legend has it that warriors in Burma wore rubies against their skin, believing the stones would keep them from harm in battle. Red stood for bravery long before anyone wore a uniform.

Passion and devotion

As the colour of the heart, ruby has always been tied to love and commitment. It's no accident that the fortieth wedding anniversary takes its name.

Protection

Medieval Europeans believed a ruby would darken to warn its owner of danger. Our own ruby pieces carry the same old idea: a source of power and protection.

Ruby, Spinel or Garnet?

Before modern gem testing, almost any red stone could be called a ruby, and some of the most famous "rubies" in history turned out to be something else.

• Spinel. The Black Prince's Ruby, set at the front of Britain's Imperial State Crown, is actually a red spinel. Spinel is a different mineral that can look almost identical, and it was only told apart from ruby in the eighteenth century.
• Garnet. Usually a darker, browner red, and softer than ruby. It's January's birthstone and far more common.
• Glass and synthetics. Lab-grown ruby has existed since the early 1900s and is chemically the same as natural ruby. Glass imitations are softer and often show tiny round bubbles.

So if someone tells you their family heirloom is a ruby, it might be. It might also be a perfectly good spinel or garnet with a longer story than they realise.

Why Red Works on Men

Red is the colour men are most wary of wearing, which is exactly why a small amount of it lands so well.

• It's part of menswear's past. Cardinals' robes, guardsmen's tunics, a red pocket square, a signet with a red stone: red has always marked men out as having rank or nerve.
• It works in small doses. A stone the size of a fingernail is enough. It gives a dark outfit a focal point without any other colour joining in.
• It suits almost every skin tone. Deep red sits as well on fair skin as it does on dark, especially set in gold.

Red reads strongest against black. Featured: Ruby Stone Pendant (Gold).

Natural Ruby or a Ruby-Coloured Stone?

A fine natural ruby can cost more than a diamond of the same size, and most stones on the market have been heated, and sometimes filled with glass, to improve their colour and clarity. That makes natural ruby a big commitment for an everyday piece.

Ours are ruby-coloured stones, chosen and cut to give that same wine-dark red, then set into gold or silver frames and finished with a scratch-resistant coating. All of the colour and symbolism is there; the price tag and the worry aren't, so you can wear it daily and never think twice.

If you're buying natural ruby elsewhere, ask for an independent laboratory report. It will say whether the stone is natural or lab-grown and whether it's been heated or glass-filled, which makes a big difference to its value.

How to Wear Ruby

One red point, never two

Ruby is the most attention-grabbing stone in the range, so give it the job on its own. A ruby pendant and a ruby bracelet at once is usually one too many. Keep everything else plain metal or black.

Yellow gold for richness, silver for edge

Gold and red have been paired in royal jewellery for centuries, and the combination still looks warm and rich. Silver makes the red look brighter and a little more modern, and it's the natural choice if your watch and rings are steel or silver.

The same red, cooler in silver. Featured: Ruby Stone Pendant (Silver).

Give it a dark backdrop

Black, navy, charcoal and deep green make red glow. A black T-shirt, a dark knit or a leather jacket is all the background ruby needs. Avoid other strong reds in your clothes and leave the stone to carry the colour alone.

Let it sit below the collarbone

A ruby pendant looks best where it can be seen through an open collar, on the flat of the chest just below the collarbone. Higher and it crowds the neck; lower and it disappears under a button.

Curious how ruby stacks up against onyx, emerald and the rest? Our stone-by-stone meanings guide lines them all up.

Ruby Pendants, Necklaces and Bracelets

Each of these uses ruby-coloured stones and comes in gold or silver, ranked by sales over the past twelve months.

The Ruby Stone Pendant

Our best-selling ruby piece, and the simplest way to wear the colour. The Ruby Stone Pendant holds one rectangular, deep red stone in four sturdy claws, with etched detail around the setting and a Cuban chain to hang from. It's also made in silver. See more single stones in our stone pendants.

Small, but you notice it. Featured: Ruby Stone Pendant (Silver).

The Melted Ruby Gemstone Bracelet

The Melted Ruby Gemstone Bracelet mixes deep ruby and softer rose stones, each in a molten-looking 18K gold bezel, with pale opals, small red clovers and crystals in between. The back is left open so light reaches every stone, and the clasp is snap-proof. There's a silver version too. Browse more in our gemstone bracelets.

Red at the cuff. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Bracelet (Gold).

Molten gold around every stone. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Bracelet (Gold).

Silver keeps the red sharp. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Bracelet (Silver).

The Melted Ruby Gemstone Necklace

The same melted design around the neck. The Melted Ruby Gemstone Necklace carries the same ruby and rose stones in melted settings along coupled links, shown at 50cm, where it sits just below the collarbone. It's the statement piece of the ruby range, and it's also made in silver.

Ruby and rose, set in gold. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Necklace (Gold).

Leather, black and one flash of red. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Necklace (Gold).

A cooler frame for a warm stone. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Necklace (Silver).

Dark clothes, bright stone. Featured: Melted Ruby Gemstone Necklace (Silver).

Ruby as part of a mix

If you'd rather wear red alongside other colours, our Gemstone Necklace, the fastest seller of all our necklaces, puts ruby tones next to amber, amethyst, emerald and opal. For every option, browse our gemstone jewellery.

Ruby or Coral: Our Other Reds

Not every red stone in our range is a ruby. Our Red Clover pieces and the Red Gemstone Clover Necklace carry a lighter, warmer coral red, and coral comes with its own story of protection and abundance, sailors and the sea.

The quick way to tell them apart: ruby is deep, cool and wine-dark; coral is brighter and closer to orange. If you want power and intensity, choose ruby. If you'd like something a little lighter and more relaxed, coral is the one.

Ruby for July, the Fortieth and Valentine's

Few stones come with as many ready-made reasons to give them.

• A July birthday. Ruby is July's birthstone, so it's personal before it's even unwrapped.
• A ruby anniversary. Forty years of marriage is traditionally marked with ruby. A Ruby Stone Pendant is a gift he can actually wear, not one that sits in a drawer.
• Valentine's Day. Red is the colour of the day, and a ruby piece says it without a card.
• A step up. Given ruby's link with leadership, it suits a promotion, a first business or taking over the family firm.

Ruby FAQs

What does ruby mean for a man?

Ruby has traditionally stood for power, courage and passion, and it was long worn to keep danger away. That's folklore and history, not science. For a man today, a ruby often marks ambition, a relationship, or a year that mattered.

Are your ruby pieces real rubies?

No. They're ruby-coloured stones rather than natural ruby, mounted in gold or silver with a scratch-resistant finish. That keeps the deep red affordable, and it means a knock or a scratch isn't a disaster.

How can you tell if a ruby is real?

A natural ruby is very hard, so its facet edges stay crisp, and under magnification it usually shows tiny needles or specks inside. Gas bubbles point to glass. Many rubies are also heated or filled with glass to improve them, which a gem laboratory report will tell you. If a large, flawless red stone seems cheap, it almost certainly isn't natural.

What's the difference between ruby and garnet or spinel?

All three can be deep red, and for centuries they were confused. Ruby is a red form of corundum and is harder than either. Garnet tends towards a darker, browner red, and spinel is a separate mineral that was often mistaken for ruby, including in some royal crowns.

Are ruby and sapphire the same stone?

They're the same mineral, corundum. Red corundum is called ruby and every other colour is sold as sapphire. Chromium is what turns it red.

Is ruby the July birthstone?

Yes, it's July's birthstone. Forty years of marriage are also marked with ruby, which is why that milestone is called a ruby anniversary.

Can men wear red stone jewellery?

Yes. Red has been worn by men as a sign of rank and courage for centuries, from royal regalia to military dress. The key is quantity: a single red pendant or bracelet looks confident, not loud.

Can you wear ruby jewellery in the shower?

Better not. Soap, chlorine and salt water wear down finishes and dull settings over time, whatever the stone. Keep your ruby pieces for dry wear, put fragrance on before them, and store each one separately so the stones don't knock against other jewellery.

Wear Red Like You Mean It

Ruby has been the stone of rulers and fighters for a reason. Choose one piece, wear it against something dark, and let the red do the talking.

Start with our stone pendants, or browse the whole gemstone range.