Ruby Brooches
Early 2000s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Retro Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s George V Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Brooches
Opal, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yello...
Early 20th Century Edwardian Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s Artisan Vintage Ruby Brooches
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Quartz, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Artist Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Go...
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Sapphire, Blue Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Victorian Ruby Brooches
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
Early 1900s Late Victorian Antique Ruby Brooches
Amber, Diamond, Ruby, Silver
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, 15k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Ruby Brooches
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yell...
1960s Contemporary Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s American Post-War Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1880s American Etruscan Revival Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s Italian Vintage Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
1930s Modernist Vintage Ruby Brooches
Sapphire, Chalcedony, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1980s Modernist Vintage Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Ruby Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Retro Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Brooches
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire
1980s Vintage Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k 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.
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