Ruby Jewelry
Mid-20th Century French Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1970s British Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s North American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Aquamarine, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
1960s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s French Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Palladium, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1960s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Citrine, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
1940s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
20th Century Japanese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1960s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, Star Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1940s Austrian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
1960s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1980s Thai Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1990s American Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century Spanish Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century French Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s Retro Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Platinum
1940s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum, Rose Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Star Ruby, Platinum
1960s English Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, White Gold
1950s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow 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.