Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Mozambican Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Palladium
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Coral, Enamel, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Tourmaline, Topaz, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Freshwater Pearl, Cult...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
1870s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Turquoise, Tsavorite, Topaz, Peridot, Garnet, Chalcedony, Carnelian, Ama...
2010s American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Tourmaline, Rose Gold
1970s European Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Canadian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 18th Century European Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
2010s Spanish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Tourmaline, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Quartz, Emerald, Citrine, Aga...
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gol...
Mid-20th Century Swiss Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Topaz, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Silver, Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
1970s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Jade, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Onyx, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Peridot, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Ruby, Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage and Antique Ruby Jewelry for Sale on 1stDibs
This deep red gem is the color of heat and passion — vintage and antique ruby jewelry is perfect for those born in the middle of summer.
Rubies are one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money. Just consider the Van Cleef & Arpels “scarf” necklace the Duke of Windsor presented to the Duchess on her 40th birthday, in 1936 — set with diamonds and dripping with rubies, a testament to the deep-red gemstone’s power — or the slippers encrusted with 4,600 rubies that Harry Winston made to commemorate The Wizard of Oz’s golden anniversary. July babies have permission to adorn themselves with this beautiful red stone even when it’s not their birthday.
Rubies are considered precious stones — along with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds — and have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs Scale, surpassed only by Moissanite and diamonds. They are composed of corundum, a colorless mineral that is also the basic material of sapphires. In the July birthstone, the red of the gemstone — and the various hues seen in sapphires — are produced by the presence of trace elements. In the case of a ruby, this element is chromium. Rubies range in color from vermilion to a violet red. They are also pleochroic, which means that a stone’s hue can vary depending on the direction of viewing. The most sought-after color is pigeon’s blood: pure red with a hint of blue.
Rubies that are hosted in dolomite marble are the most prized: Because the marble is low in iron, so are the rubies, resulting in a more intense color. Rubies found in basalt, which has a higher iron content, are generally darker and less intense.
When shopping for antique and vintage ruby jewelry, remember that the 4Cs of selecting the perfect diamond — color, clarity, cut and carat — also apply to rubies.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, the color of the July birthstone should be a vibrant to slightly purplish red, and the stone should be clear and inclusion-free. Accordingly, the cut should show off its color and clarity. As for the last criterion, fine rubies more than a carat in weight are rare. Often, large rubies are more expensive than diamonds of comparable weights.
Find a collection of ruby necklaces, ruby rings and other accessories on 1stDibs.