Ruby Jewelry
Late 20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Mixed Metal
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Topaz, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Swedish Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Garnet, Emerald, Diamond, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Quartz, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, S...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1940s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
1910s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Platinum
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Turkish Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Ruby Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Ruby, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s English Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Burmese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Star Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Brass
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, 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.