Ruby Jewelry
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Aquamarine, Rose Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold,...
18th Century and Earlier Italian Contemporary Antique Ruby Jewelry
Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s English Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Mandarin Garnet, Garnet, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold Plate
1950s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
17th Century Burmese Byzantine Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Stainless Steel
1990s European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold,...
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Rock Crystal, Crystal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Onyx, Jade, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Amethyst, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Jade, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s Thai Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Onyx, Jade, Diamond, Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1980s Thai Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
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.