Ruby Jewelry
1960s Unknown Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Unknown Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Coral, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Late 20th Century Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s European Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold Plate
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s Greek Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Titanium, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Ruby Jewelry
Quartz, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Asian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s Israeli Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Hematite, Malachite, Ruby, Rainbow Moonstone, Gold, 14...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Agate, Y...
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, White Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold
1970s French Aesthetic Movement Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Rubelite, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold Pla...
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Amber, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Tiger's Eye, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Vermei...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Tanzanite, Sapphire, Ruby, Quartz, Pearl, Diamond, Amethyst, Sterling Si...
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Agate, Chalcedony, Malachite, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.