Ruby Brooches
Mid-20th Century Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century Artisan Ruby Brooches
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1980s Artisan Vintage Ruby Brooches
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1980s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Brooches
White Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Emerald, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, White Gold
2010s Artisan Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Ruby, Tsavorite, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Brooches
Aquamarine, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Whit...
2010s Ruby Brooches
Brown Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Brown Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Whit...
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, Platinum, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1960s Retro Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Peridot, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
20th Century Retro Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
20th Century Retro Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, Diamond, Blue Diamond, Emeral...
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
Early 2000s Ruby Brooches
Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Ruby Brooches
Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage and Antique Ruby Jewelry
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 that 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.
