Ruby Jewelry
2010s Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
1960s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold, White ...
1980s German Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Russian Empire Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Tita...
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Malachite, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
1980s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Australian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Rose Gold
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold
1940s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Neoclassical Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Tourmaline, Spinel, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White 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.