Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Mozambican Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
2010s Sri Lankan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Ster...
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18...
2010s Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Crystal, Diamond, Onyx, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1980s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1970s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Garnet, Kunzite, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1940s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Portuguese Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Israeli Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Platinum
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Asian Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
1960s Turkish Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
1960s English Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Garnet, Peridot, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k 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.