Edwardian Burma Ruby Ring
Early 20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby
Antique Early 1900s Burmese Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Dome Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s British Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Ruby, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian More Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby
Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian More Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s British Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Edwardian Dome Rings
Ruby, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Engagement Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby
Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Cluster Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Cluster Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Victorian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Edwardian Band Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Edwardian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian More Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
2010s Unknown Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian More Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century French Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century Edwardian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
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Edwardian Burma Ruby Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Edwardian Burma Ruby Ring?
A Close Look at Edwardian Jewelry
Antique Edwardian jewelry is named for King Edward VII of Great Britain, who ruled from 1901 until 1910. Classic Edwardian necklaces, engagement rings, earrings and other jewelry are often overshadowed by the more popular style of the era, Art Nouveau, which is a shame. At its best, Edwardian jewelry was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron.
Edward introduced incredibly formal Buckingham Palace court presentations, balls and soirées, resulting in a huge demand for diamond jewels starting with his coronation in 1902. Dozens of tiaras and formal jewels in an updated 18th-century style were purchased from French jewelers Boucheron and Chaumet and from Russia’s Fabergé. The court jewelers Asprey, Garrard, Carrington and the newly opened London branch of Cartier were all overwhelmed with orders for sumptuous diamond jewelry to be worn at the king’s elaborate coronation.
During the Edwardian era, pearls were more valuable than diamonds. The pear-shaped pearl La Peregrina, for example, belonged to some of the most fabulous and strongest women in history and bounced among royal courts in Spain, France and Russia for several centuries. So while today the scale and clarity of a diamond ring matters, back then the size and quantity of your pearls was more important a declaration of wealth. And just as Victorian notions of propriety and femininity began to change after Queen Victoria died in 1901, jewelry design also evolved but there was some overlap with late Victorian styles.
Women of the Edwardian period sported bejeweled headpieces like tiaras and bandeaus with feathered aigrettes. Another popular piece of jewelry that is said to have been directly inspired by Queen Alexandra were colliers de chien, or dog collars — today's choker necklaces — which consisted of either a ribbon decorated with a brooch, a gemstone or several strands of pearls strung closely together.
Two major jewelry houses, Cartier and Boucheron, were founded in the mid-1850s, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the wealthy considered them household names. The Cartier brand became even more desirable once the house became the official jewelry supplier to King Edward VII. Cartier took this title seriously and designed some of the most innovative jewelry of its day, since it was willing to experiment with new materials like platinum and because it was mindful of fashion trends. Filigree settings also became popular. This saw-piercing technique was decorative and at the same time created a sense of lightness.
Perhaps even more important than Cartier’s use of platinum was the founding of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 1888. The discovery of new diamond mines made the stone more affordable and prompted the introduction of new gemstone cuts. It is not uncommon to see Edwardian jewels with baguette or briolette diamonds.
Find antique Edwardian rings, bracelets, watches and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
The Legacy of Ruby in Jewelry Design
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.
Finding the Right Rings for You
Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.
No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.
Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.
Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry.
The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.
Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.
Read More
Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
How to Buy a Vintage or Antique Engagement Ring
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.