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Tiffany Ruby Heart

TIFFANY & Co. Platinum Diamond Ruby Heart Pendant Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TIFFANY & Co. Platinum Diamond Ruby Heart Pendant Necklace Metal: Platinum Chain: 16" Pendant
Category

2010s American Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Vintage Tiffany & Co. 18k Gold Ruby Pearl Heart Brooch Pin
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Flushing, NY
Vintage Tiffany & Co. 18k Gold Ruby Pearl Heart Brooch Pin Approximate Dimensions: 3.4 cm (Length
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Pearl Ruby Diamond Gold Domed Heart Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Stamford, CT
1950's Authentic Tiffany + Co, Ruby, diamond and Akoya pearls set in 18k yellow gold, Italian made
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. 14k Yellow Gold Heart Pin Brooch with Ruby
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Mint condition. Vintage 14k yellow gold Dimension: 1.2x1.3” Weight: 4.5gr Ruby stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Recent Sales

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Gold Heart Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Darnestown, MD
Double open heart brooch by Tiffany and Co. in 18 karat gold. Six rubies are interspersed
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Diamond Gold Heart Pendant Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
feminine spirit, this brilliant necklace from Tiffany & Co. embellishes lovely heart-shaped 18K yellow gold
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Diamond Gold Checkered Heart Pendant
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
Classically designed but with a twist, this Tiffany & Co. pendant is sure to please! Made of 18K
Category

Late 20th Century American Necklace Enhancers

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Yellow Gold Diamond Heart Pin Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond & Ruby Heart Pin Brooch by Tiffany & Co. With 10 round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

Vintage Tiffany & Co. Vivid Pinkish Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Tiffany & Co. Vivid Vivid Pinkish Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring. A beautifully
Category

20th Century Solitaire Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Fine Tiffany & Co. Vivid Blood Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Tiffany & Co. Vivid Blood Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring. A beautifully made
Category

20th Century Solitaire Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Tiffany & Co. Vivid Blood Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Tiffany & Co. Vivid Deep Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring. A beautifully made
Category

20th Century Band Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K and Gem set Heart brooch by Tiffany & Company
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Interesting 18K Yellow Gold Heart brooch by Tiffany & Company, Textured surface with raised Hearts
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Heart Gold Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Tiffany & Co. yellow gold band ring features a heart shaped Ruby in a gold heart shaped bezel
Category

Vintage 1980s Band Rings

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Vintage Ruby Heart Ring in 18K Yellow Gold
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Tiffany & Co. Vintage Ruby Heart Ring in 18K Yellow Gold Retails for 2,270 USD. In excellent
Category

2010s Modern More Rings

Materials

Ruby, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Red Ruby Gold Heart Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Stamford, CT
Tiffany & Co circa 1950 to 1960 solid 18k yellow gold Italian made heart brooch, with 12 round
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Vintage Tiffany & Co. Vivid Blood Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Tiffany & Co. Vivid Deep Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring. A beautifully made
Category

20th Century Band Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Tiffany & Co. Vivid Blood Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Tiffany & Co. Vivid Blood Red Ruby Heart Cut 18k Yellow Gold Band Ring. A beautifully made
Category

20th Century Band Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. 2.50 Carat Ruby Heart Locket Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Stamford, CT
Tiffany & Co heart shape fine Ruby locket 14k rose gold cocktail ring. The top opens to hold a
Category

Early 20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold

Tiffany & Co. 8.00 Carat Ruby 18 Karat Gold Heart Pendant Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch designed as pierced heart featuring a grid motif comprised of twisted cable Prong set
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Retro Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Gold Oversized Heart Pendant
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring an oversized 14 karat gold heart with radiating linear design Centering a floral design
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Pendant Necklaces

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Heart Brooch/Pendant
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This 18k roped gold Tiffany & Co. heart with juicy rubies beats only for you.
Category

Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Ruby Gold Latticework Heart Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Lovely Tiffany& Co. heart shape brooch, 18K gold, flowers with faceted ruby centers set in fine
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Gold and Ruby Heart Drop
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Lovely figural "heart" charm. Made and signed by TIFFANY & CO. 14K yellow gold. Set with a
Category

Vintage 1940s American More Jewelry

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold

TIFFANY & CO Gold and Ruby Heart Pin/Pendant
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful puffy Tiffany &CO heart,that could be worn as a pin or pendant. 18K gold, fine lattice
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

TIFFANY&CO Diamond and Ruby Heart Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
TIFFANY&CO Diamond and Ruby heart drop, set in 950 palladium, attached to 16" platinum chain
Category

American Drop Necklaces

TIFFANY Dearest Heart
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Tiffany large 14K gold "DEAREST heart charm. The stones in the heart, diamond, emerald
Category

American Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz

TIffany Ruby & Diamond 18K Heart Necklace
Located in New York , NY
Ruby and diamond 18K yellow gold Tiffany heart necklace. The rubies are blood red, beautiful
Category

Late 20th Century American Drop Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold

People Also Browsed

Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Cone Losange Green Enamel Bangle Bracelet 138 gm 18K
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Cone Losange Bracelet, crafted in 18k yellow gold and enriched with vibrant Green enamel, accented with alternating clusters of gold leaves and ...
Category

20th Century Unknown Retro Bangles

Materials

18k Gold, Enamel

Tiffany & Co Schlumberger 18K Gold Diamond Ring
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Absolutely stunning Tiffany & Co Schlumberger diamond engagement ring circa 1970! A pristine and shiny 18K yellow gold band joins together an intricate leaf-like motif compromise...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage Pair of 18K Yellow Gold Tiffany Bands with Cabochon Rubies and Sapphires
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This tailored pair of vintage Tiffany & Company matching 18K yellow gold bands, set with fine quality natural rubies and blue sapphires, are an unusual offering from the maker. The ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Band Rings

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Gold and Diamond Flame Earrings
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Darnestown, MD
Tiffany 18 karat gold earrings in the shape of branches or flames. The bottom of each has three graduated diamonds with a total carat weigh of .40 carats per earring. Clip backs can ...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Gold and Diamond Flame Earrings
Tiffany & Co. Gold and Diamond Flame Earrings
$3,200 / set
W 0.75 in L 1.25 in
Cartier Paris GIA Certified 7.89 Carat Diamond Platinum Dangle Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Stamford, CT
Sensational Early 1900's Cartier Paris diamond dangle earrings. These stunning earrings are set with 2 pear shaped diamonds with a total weight of 2.14cts. that dangle from custom cu...
Category

Early 20th Century French Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

Jean Schlumberger Bright Enamel Gem Parrot Brooch
By Jean Schlumberger
Located in New York, NY
AN ENAMEL AND MULTI-GEM PARROT BROOCH, BY JEAN SCHLUMBERGER, TIFFANY & CO. Embark on a journey of vibrant elegance with the Tiffany & Co. Jean Schlumberger Enamel and Multi-Gem Parr...
Category

20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Enamel

Vintage Tiffany & Co. Platinum Natural Diamond Ribbon Bow Pin Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Baltimore, MD
Vintage Tiffany & Co. Platinum Natural Diamond Ribbon Bow Pin Brooch Metal: Platinum Weight: 6.51 grams Diamonds: Approx. 2.00 CTW F-G VS natural round diamonds Dimensions: 33 x 20m...
Category

Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Tiffany & Co. Spray Diamond Platinum Necklace and Earrings Set
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
Platinum Diamond Necklace & Earrings Set by Tiffany & Co. Part of TIffany & Co's Spray Collection. With 1Necklace: 299 Round Brilliant cut diamonds VVS clarity, G color total weight...
Category

20th Century French More Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Emilio Jewelry Certified 83.00 Carat Fancy Diamond Necklace
By Emilio!
Located in New York, NY
From Emilio Jewelry located on New York's iconic Fifth Avenue, featuring a hard to come by Gia certified 25.00 carat yellow diamond pear shape drop diamond. The necklace is set with ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Diamond

Tiffany & Co Schlumberger Gold Ruby Hedgehog Brooch Pin
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Adorable 18k yellow gold hedgehog brooch , designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. Set with tiny ruby eyes. The brooch measures 1.25" x 7/8". Hallmarked on the back : Tiffany...
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Gold

1980 Tiffany & Co Diamond Dome Ring Paloma Picasso Vintage 18k Gold Platinum 5
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Torrance, CA
Rare vintage Tiffany & Co diamond dome ring designed by Paloma Picasso, crafted in 18 karat yellow gold & platinum (circa 1980). 33 round brilliant & single cut diamonds total an ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise & Diamond Convertible Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise & Diamond Convertible Necklace An 18 karat yellow gold necklace set with cabochon turquoise and round cut diamonds. The necklace is made of 3 sections a...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Link Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Schlumberger - Tiffany & Co. Croisillon Bracelet
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
The 'Croisillon' Bracelet, Designed by Jean Schlumberger Is Said to Have Been Jacqueline Kennedy's Favorite Bracelet and Often Referred To by the Press as the "Jackie Bracelet" Is C...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Link Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Tiffany & Co. Pink Sapphires Gold Ear Clips
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Tiffany & Co. 18 karat yellow gold ear clips with a cluster of 2.4 mm, round pink sapphires in the center. It features a tapered feather like design. Marked: Tiffany & Co. / 18k / It...
Category

Vintage 1970s Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Tiffany & Co. 4 Stones Yellow Gold Brooch Pin
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
VINTAGE TIFFANY 4 STONES YELLOW GOLD BROOCH PIN. *Rare Vintage, Good condition 14k Yellow Gold 4 natural stones Weight: 13.7gr Dimension: 1.8x2.1” *Comes with Tiffany pouch.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Vintage Buccellati Diamond and Cultured Pearl Necklace in 18K Gold
By Buccellati
Located in Houston, TX
Buccellati necklace composed of 18K yellow and white gold with diamonds and pearls. There are 11 carats of rose-cut and round brilliant-cut diamonds and 15 light gray cultured pearl...
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

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Tiffany Ruby Heart For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact piece of tiffany ruby heart you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 26 vintage editions and 2 modern creations to choose from as well. Making the right choice when shopping for an item from our selection of tiffany ruby heart may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 20th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes cabochon and heart cut alternatives. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking a choice in our collection of tiffany ruby heart, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Tiffany Ruby Heart?

The price for a piece of tiffany ruby heart starts at $875 and tops out at $7,800 with these brooches, on average, selling for $3,495.

Tiffany & Co. for sale on 1stDibs

Tiffany & Co. is one of the most prominent purveyors of luxury goods in the United States, and has long been an important arbiter of style in the design of diamond engagement rings. A young Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed to his future wife, Eleanor, with a Tiffany ring in 1904. Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Astors and members of the Russian imperial family all wore Tiffany & Co. jewelry. And Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis preferred Tiffany china for state dinners at the White House.

Although synonymous with luxury today, the firm started out rather modestly. Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young founded it in Connecticut as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” in 1837, at a time when European imports still dominated the nascent American luxury market. In 1853, Charles Tiffany — who in 1845 had launched the company’s famed catalog, the Blue Book, and with it, the firm’s signature robin’s-egg blue, which he chose for the cover — shifted the focus to fine jewelry.

In 1868, Tiffany & Co. gained international recognition when it became the first U.S. firm to win an award for excellence in silverware at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. From then on, it belonged to the pantheon of American luxury brands.

At the start of the Gilded Age, in 1870, Tiffany & Co. opened its flagship store, described as a "palace of jewels" by the New York Times, at 15 Union Square West in Manhattan. Throughout this period, its designs for silver tableware, ceremonial silver, flatware and jewelry were highly sought-after indicators of status and taste. They also won the firm numerous accolades, including the grand prize for silverware at the Paris Exposition of 1878. Among the firm’s glittering creations from this time are masterworks of Art Nouveau jewelry, such as this delicate aquamarine necklace and this lavish plique-à-jour peridot and gold necklace, both circa 1900.

When Charles Lewis Tiffany died, in 1902, his son Louis Comfort Tiffany became the firm’s design director. Under his leadership, the Tiffany silver studio was a de facto design school for apprentice silversmiths, who worked alongside head artisan Edward C. Moore. The firm produced distinctive objects inspired by Japanese art and design, North American plants and flowers, and Native American patterns and crafts, adding aesthetic diversity to Tiffany & Co.’s distinguished repertoire.

Tiffany is also closely associated with diamonds, even lending its name to one particularly rare and exceptional yellow stone. The firm bought the Tiffany diamond in its raw state from the Kimberley mines of South Africa in 1878. Cut to create a 128.54-carat gem with an unprecedented 82 facets, it is one of the most spectacular examples of a yellow diamond in the world.

In a broader sense, Tiffany & Co. helped put diamonds on the map in 1886 by introducing the American marketplace to the solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular engagement-ring styles. The trademark Tiffany® Setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light. A lovely recent example is this circa-2000 platinum engagement ring. Displaying a different design and aesthetic (but equally chic) is this exquisite diamond and ruby ring from the 1930s.

Find Tiffany & Co. jewelry, serveware and decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

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.

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.

Questions About Tiffany & Co.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    A Tiffany & Co. engagement ring can cost as little as $13,000 or as much as $500,000 depending on the center stone’s carat weight, the band material and whether or not there are any side stones. The smaller the stone, the cheaper the ring will be. Find engagement rings designed by Tiffany & Co. on 1stDibs.