18K Yellow Gold Contemporary Ruby Diamond Handmade Pendant for Her
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Ruby Diamond Pendant in 18K Gold. It has a square cut ruby studded with diamonds that completes your look with a decent touch. Pendants are used to wear or gifted to represent love a...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold-filled
Peter Suchy GIA Certified 13.74 Carat Opal Diamond Ruby Yellow Gold Pendant
By Peter Suchy
Located in Stamford, CT
Opal, diamond and ruby pendant necklace. GIA certified 13.74cts square opal with a halo of 19 round diamonds and 19 round rubies set in 18k yellow gold. 18 inch chain.
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14k Solid Yellow Gold Ruby Gemstone and Halo Diamond Bar Pendant for Her
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Ruby and Halo Diamond Gemstone Bar Pendant for Her It has a Square cut ruby with diamonds that completes your look with a decent touch. Pendants are used to wear or gifted to represe...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Italian Made Coin Collar Necklace
Located in New York, NY
A thick collar necklace, featuring a snake skin design made with solid 18K yellow gold and a removable Greek silver drachma coin of Alexander the Great. Accented by a row on each sid...
Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Oval Pendant 18k Yellow Gold Blue Guilloche Enamel 1 Peridot 3 Rubies 2 Stars
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer oval pendant 18k yellow gold, blue Guilloche vitreous enamel, 1 Peridot, 3 Rubies, 2 Gold Star Paillons About the creator Victor Mayer Victor Mayer is internationally ...
Peridot, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$3,500Sale Price|30% Off
18K Yellow & White Gold Ruby and Diamond Heart Pendant 2.00 Carat total weight
By Gregory Mikaelian & Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Yellow & White Gold Invisible set Ruby and Diamond Heart Pendant 2.00 Carat total weight, on a 14k yellow gold 16 inch snake chain. *Motivated to Sell - Please make a Fair Offer*...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.22 Ct Sapphire Ruby and Diamond Checks Bar Pendant Encrusted in 18K White Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Sapphire, ruby and diamond checks bar pendant in 18K Gold. It has a square cut gemstone studded with diamonds that completes your look with a decent touch. Pendants are used to wear ...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Square Small Cross and Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios solid 18 Karat Gold cross pendant Necklace is handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style bead granulation work and finished with a unique velvet backgrou...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Black Diamond, Bro...
An 18k Gold Cartier Chain and Cross
By Cartier
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18k gold cross pendant set with sapphire, ruby and emeralds, signed numbered and dated: Cartier, model Byzantine on a woven Cartier chain weight: 16 g dimensions 3 cm length chain...
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$1,700
Totem Anunaki
By NIBIRU Collection
Located in Miami, FL
Very delicate and powerful pendant made of solid gold 18k with a square Rubi and Sapphires, this is a Anunaki design from the ancient cultures
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
18 Carat White Gold Ruby and Diamond Heart Necklace
By La Fleur Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
We design a very nice Heart pendant with necklace .The technique use invisible setting .We cut and groove very stone. This pendant is very nice style you can use in many occasion in ...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Retro Ruby Diamond Pendant Necklace and Huggie Hoop Earrings Set 18K Yellow Gold
Located in beverly hills, CA
A stunning Retro era jewelry set consisted of a pendant necklace and huggie hoop earrings. The jewelry suit is handcrafted in 18K yellow gold. The pendant necklace and earrings show...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$4,800
Ruby Diamond Cross Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional emerald cut ruby cross with diamonds set in platinum. 1.25cts of rubies. Four diamonds frame the center of the cross. Perfect sparkling little jewel
Diamond, Ruby
Unavailable|$3,156 / item
Ruby Byzantine Cross Pendant with Squares
Located in Athens, GR
This exquisite Byzantine cross pendant is a radiant masterpiece, where glistening squares intertwine with the fiery brilliance of radiant rubies, celebrating the artistry of ancient ...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$2,176 / item
AITCHES - Ruby by Heart Necklace in 18K Gold
By AITCHES Jewelry
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
The Heart to Have collection embodies strength and love. The Ruby by Heart necklace features invisibly hand set rubies that symbolize the deep connections between people, and celebra...
Ruby, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$5,080 / item
Heart shaped Invisible set Ruby along with diamond Necklace
Located in Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
Necklace made in 18kt Yellow gold with high quality natural rubies each handpicked of good quality & cut & grooved further to perfection & set on this Necklace full of mysteries. Thi...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$3,998
14k & 18k Gem Slider Charm Choker Necklace Ruby Emerald Sapphire Moon
Located in Sausalito, CA
This custom-crafted necklace exudes high-end luxury and designer appeal, featuring 15 slider charms made from a sophisticated blend of 14k and 18k gold. The stylish design is elevate...
Amethyst, Citrine, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$1,542 / item
Byzantine Cross with Ruby and Granulations
Located in Athens, GR
Discover the exquisite beauty of our cross pendant, adorned with intricate granulations that capture the essence of Byzantine artistry. At the heart of this stunning piece lies a vib...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$492
Agate Mermaid Pendant with Three Rubies, Sterling Silver
By Olivia Cummings
Located in Kew, Victoria
Agate Mermaid Pendant - Sterling Silver Carved agate set in sterling silver in our Italian studios, adorned with rubies. A one-off piece, available immediately. Hand crafted and ind...
Agate, Ruby, Sterling Silver
Unavailable|$405
Synthetic Ruby Sterling Silver Pendant
Located in Cambridge, NZ
This eye catching synthetic ruby measuring 20mm in diameter, showcased in a sterling silver setting features a man-made ruby gemstone in a square shape which would be a lovely additi...
Other, Sterling Silver
Unavailable|$2,940
Akoya Pearl Necklace with 14 kt. White Gold and Ruby Clasp
Located in Viana do Castelo, PT
A Magnificent Necklace consisting of Akoya pearls with white gold clasp with 5 rubies in quatrefoil shape 80 Akoya pearls of approx. Ø 7 mm Natural white, lustre very good; with na...
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
0.80 Carat Ruby and White Diamond Square Pendant Necklace
By Shimon's Creations
Located in New York, NY
The 0.80 Carat Ruby and White Diamond Square Pendant Necklace is simple yet luxurious with its sleek design of rubies and white diamonds.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Christian Dior GROSSE Double Square Ruby Crystal Openwork Link Pyramid Necklace
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior GROSSE 1970s Vintage Double Square Diamond Ruby Red Crystals Openwork Link Pyramid Pendant Necklace, Gold Silver Plated Very good condition.
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
DiamondTown 0.70 Carat Ruby Cluster Square and 0.19 Carat Diamond Pendant
Located in New York, NY
This pendant features a ruby cluster square center (nine stones, total weight 0.70 carats), surrounded by a halo of white diamonds (total diamond weight 0.19 carats) set in 18k White...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Christian Dior GROSSE 1970s Openwork Square Ruby Crystals Gold Pendant Necklace
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior GROSSE 1970s Openwork Square Ruby Crystals Pendant Necklace, Gold Silver Plated Very good condition.
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Christian Dior GROSSE Double Square Ruby Crystal Openwork Link Pyramid Necklace
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior GROSSE 1970s Vintage Double Square Diamond Ruby Red Crystals Openwork Link Pyramid Pendant Necklace, Gold Silver Plated Very good condition.
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Christian Dior GROSSE Double Square Ruby Crystal Openwork Link Pyramid Necklace
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior GROSSE 1970s Vintage Double Square Diamond Ruby Red Crystals Openwork Link Pyramid Pendant Necklace, Gold Silver Plated Very good condition.
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Christian Dior GROSSE Double Square Ruby Crystal Openwork Link Pyramid Necklace
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior GROSSE 1970s Vintage Double Square Diamond Ruby Red Crystals Openwork Link Pyramid Pendant Necklace, Gold Silver Plated Very good condition.
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Mystery Set Ruby Diamond 18k White Gold Pendant Necklace
Located in Simpsonville, SC
The Mystery Set Ruby Diamond 18K White Gold Pendant Necklace is an exquisite piece of jewelry that showcases both unparalleled craftsmanship and timeless elegance. This luxurious nec...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Ruby Diamond Heart Slide Pendant Necklace 3.50ct 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Dearborn, MI
Ruby Diamond Heart Slide Pendant Necklace 3.50ct 14K Yellow Gold Features 21 Genuine Natural Red Custom Cut Ruby Gemstones Rubies are Custom Cut to Fit the Heart Shape $270 in G...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Style Mosaic 51.55 Carat Ruby Checkers Coomi Necklace
By Coomi
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Stunning and remarkable necklace Art Deco Style and Mosaic from Coomi inspire her. Crafted in rich 20 Karat Yellow Gold with Mozambic Ruby weighing approximately 51.55cts and Diamond...
Ruby, Yellow Gold
Yves Saint Laurent YSL Gripoix Ruby Square Cabochon Collar Choker Gold Necklace
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Wokingham, England
Yves Saint Laurent YSL Vintage by Robert Goossens Arty Textured Ripple Gripoix Ruby Red Square Cabochon Crystal Collar Choker Chunky Modernist Elegant Necklace, Gold Plated Very goo...
Gold Plate
Estate Piaget Blue Sapphire and Ruby Necklace in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Astounding Piaget estate necklace showcasing numerous good quality blue sapphire and ruby square and round shapes.
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
.55 Carat Ruby Diamond Yellow Gold Heart Shape Pendant Necklace
Located in Stamford, CT
Heart shaped 14k yellow gold pendant set with 21 square cut rubies and a halo of full cut diamonds on a 18 inch box chain. 21 square cut red rubies, approx. .55cts 22 full cut diam...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960's Vintage Cultured Pearl Ruby 18 Karat Gold Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Long hand knotted strand of 8.0 mm round pearls - very well matched Cream in color with moderate to strong rosè overtones and good to very good luster With a decorative barrel clas...
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Christian Dior 1970s Ruby Sapphire Emerald Stars Square Mesh Openwork Necklace
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior 1970s Vintage Luxury Baroque Ruby Sapphire Emerald Amethyst Red Blue Green Purple Crystals Stars Square Double Mesh Openwork Interlocked Triangle Wide Modernist Elegan...
Gold Plate
Regal 18k Rose Gold Ruby & Diamond Art Deco Style Necklace w/ Pendant w/1.47 ct
Located in רמת גן, IL
The centerpiece is a radiant four square-cut rubies totaling 0.75 carats, boasting a rich purple red color.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Silvorra 925 Silver Ruby Linear Pendant Modern Square & Round Cut Christmas Gift
Located in New York, NY
This elegant pendant is crafted from 925 sterling silver and features 7 natural ruby gemstones in square 3.5x3.5 mm and round 2 mm cuts, totaling 1.55 carats. Measuring 1.05 inches l...
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold|$5,715
Vintage Ruby and Diamond Heart Pendant
Located in London, GB
Here we have a striking vintage pendant. This piece showcases a plump heart-shaped design adorned with alternating square-cut red rubies and brilliant-cut white diamonds, creating a ...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$2,400 / item
18k Gold and Ruby Vintage Filigree Large Cross Pendant
Located in New York, NY
This 18k gold and ruby cross pendant is truly sensational. Large and designed entirely of detailed filigree, it is a highly unusual and rare piece. The bail incorporates filigree for...
Ruby, 18k Gold
Sold|$10,586
Bulgari Chandra Porcelain Ruby Gold Pendant
By Bulgari
Located in Napoli, NA
A beautiful pendant on chain in 18 k yellow gold and white porcelain by Bulgari. from the very collectible “Chandra” collection, Made in Italy, circa 1990. Designed as a series of pa...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14KT White Gold Ruby and Diamond Wave Pendant
Located in New York, NY
This elegant pendant features a flowing wave design, crafted in 14KT white gold. It is adorned with 1.60 carats of square cut rubies, beautifully set alongside 0.31 carats of round c...
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
Christian Dior Vintage 1980 Square Ruby Crystals Interlocked Ribbed Omega 2 Set
By Christian Dior
Located in Wokingham, England
Christian Dior Vintage 1980s Square Cube Ruby Red Circle Clear Crystals Interlocked Pendant Ribbed Omega 2 Jewellery Set Elegant Modernist Necklace Clip Earrings, Gold Tone Very exc...
Gold Plate
Illusion Ruby and Diamond Teardrop Pendant Necklace14k White Gold
Located in Dallas, TX
Illusion Ruby 1.37ct and Diamond Teardrop Pendant Necklace in 14k White Gold. 18" Length 5 Grams
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Yves Saint Laurent YSL Vintage Gripoix Ruby Square Cabochon Crescent Moon 2 Set
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Wokingham, England
Yves Saint Laurent YSL Vintage by Robert Goossens Arty Textured Ripple Gripoix Ruby Red Square Cabochon Crystal Collar Choker Chunky Modernist Elegant Necklace Crescent Clip Earrings...
Gold Plate
1.31 Carat Ruby and 0.19 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive 1.31 carat ruby and 0.19 carat diamond, 18 karat yellow gold and 18 karat white gold pendant; part of our diverse ruby jewellery and estate jewelry collections....
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, Yellow Gold
18k Gold 1.29ctw Invisible Set Ruby Center w/ Channel Diamond Halo Heart Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
You are looking at a very fine heart pendant crafted in solid 18k yellow gold featuring gorgeous natural rubies neatly set at the center of a fiery diamond halo. The rubies are squar...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Augis Ruby Halo Love Pendant In 18 Karat Gold, Love Medal, Alphonse Augis
By A. Augis
Located in PARIS, FR
Augis ruby halo Love pendant in 18 karat gold. Rare round Augis love medal with a border of 22 calibrated synthetic rubies. The "+" sign is adorned with five single-cut diamonds in a...
Ruby, Gold
Mystery Set Rectangular Ruby and Diamond Pendant, 18 Karat White Gold
Located in New York, NY
A Mystery Set Rectangular Ruby and Diamond Pendant in 18K White Gold. Ruby Weight: 4.88 carats, Diamond Weight: 0.78 carats. Total Weight: 13.70 grams.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Victorian Ruby & Old Mine Cut Diamond Locket by Schwarz & Steiner, Austria
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian era Ruby & Diamond Slider Locket composed of 14k yellow gold. With 48 square calibré cut rubies (non heat treated) weighing approximately 1.44 carats in total, and 4 Old Mi...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Retro Solid Gold 34.2ctw Large Aquamarine Diamond Ruby Enhancer Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Aquamarine - Large Square Rectangular Step Cut - Prong Set - Light to Medium Blue Color - 25x19.75x10mm - 33.8ct (approx.) (8) Natural Genuine Diamo...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
GIA Certified Ruby Pendant 0.80 carats Burma Pigeon Blood Vivid Red 18K Gold
Located in New York, NY
This Natural Ruby pendant is a testament to fine craftsmanship and timeless design. Perfect for those who appreciate the beauty of natural diamonds, this pendant offers a balance of...
Ruby, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Invisible-Set Ruby & Diamond Heart 14 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant on Rope Chain Ne
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Invisible-Set Twenty (20) Square Square Step Cut Rubies measuring 2.50 m.m.
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Illusion Set Ruby and Diamond Halo Pendant in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
This eye-catching 18k contemporary pendant features an impressive white gold setting, centering multi-shaped rubies formed one 8 mm. size circle, accented by 0.13 carat of round bril...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Statement Emerald, Ruby And Sapphire Round Pendant in 14kt Solid White Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Statement Emerald, Ruby And Sapphire Pendant in 14K Gold studded with square cut emerald, ruby and sapphire with diamonds.
Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Gold, 14k ...
Sold|$5,890
Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Byzantine Cross
By Cartier
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
This charming gold cross was made by Cartier in the 1990s. Crafted from 18 karat yellow gold the cross is set with four square cut blue sapphires, four pear shape rubies and a centra...
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Gold 1.25ct Squared Ruby & 0.15ct Diamond Invisible Pendant
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
A beautiful and quality stylish pendant enhancer. Halo invisible squared ruby set neatly with precision. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: PRICE NOT INCLUDING IMPORT TAX AND CUSTOM DUTIES We ...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry 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.
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage David Webb necklaces — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
If jewelry could talk, we know this piece would have good stories.
Emblems of heartfelt emotion, elegant vessels for photos and keepsakes and perfect for layering, these special ornaments are an essential component of any thoughtfully curated jewelry collection.
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
Organic shapes, surprising textures, shimmering colors and inventive embellishments take the new generation of pearl jewelry from classic to cutting-edge.
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
Learn more about the stylish links that have passed the test of time.
After more than a decade creating the iconic Lanvin gems of the Alber Elbaz years, designer Elie Top dove into the world of fine jewelry, mixing silver and gold to create his own striking, timeless look.