Ruby-Inspired Beads and Cabochons for July

Ruby is July’s birthstone, and its rich red-pink hue symbolizes passion and devotion. Bring rubies and ruby-inspired colors into your beadwork with focal elements, beads, and cabochons. Whether you’re crafting a timeless piece or a trendy design, working with ruby-colored beads in various sizes and shapes results in one-of-a-kind jewelry that captivates the eye.

In celebration of all things ruby, here are five components to use in your handmade beaded jewelry.

Related: Ruby Gemstones: Just the Facts About July’s Birthstone

Blossom in Ruby Flowers

Whether you string them, bezel them, or incorporate them into other types of beadwork, these jewel-tone flower beads are beautiful focal elements. (See photo above.) Each transparent red  21mm Czech glass flower bead is bigger than a penny. 1mm holes make it possible to use these hibiscus flower beads from Funky Pretty Beads with other styles of cord, so you can use them with macramé, kumihimo, and other braiding techniques.

Find Inspiration in Ruby Colors

Matte Transparent Ruby seed beads by Miyuki capture a lot of the variation in color that can be found in natural rubies. Also known as glass rocaille beads, Japanese seed beads are known for their uniform round shape that allows for greater precision in beading designs. These would be ideal for bead looming a ruby-inspired cuff or bezeling around eye-catching focal elements. Miyuki 11/0 seed beads come in 14g tubes of about 1500 beads.

Bead With a Work of Art

This gorgeous statement bead features a recreation of the painting Ruby by Alphonse Mucha. Each hand-painted black agate rectangle bead is signed by the artist who painted it, so you know you’re getting a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. String this bead onto a head pin to turn it into a pendant or use it at the center of bead embroidery.

Use a Gemstone Kit

If want to try your hand at fringe earrings, this kit is a beautiful place to start. These stylish fringe earring kits include three sparkly 15-inch strands of 2mm faceted ruby sapphire gemstones from Dakota Stones along with all the components you need to DIY. The kit includes all materials for these earrings along with step-by-step instructions.

Birthstone Alternative

Ruby zoisite is a beautiful twist on July’s birthstone, with shades of pink and green in the same stone. Reviewers say these stone cabochons are great quality, very pretty, and perfect for making earrings. Use them as springboards to launch your ruby-inspired beadwork designs.

We hope you’re feeling inspired by create some ruby red jewelry with all these gorgeous beads!

Related: Make a Trendy Layered Necklace with Birthstone-Inspired Beads

Do you have a favorite source for red beads, cabochons, or components? Let us know in the comments.

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