Ruby Jewelry
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1910s Finnish Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1950s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Star Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Greek Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s Early Victorian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
1940s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Silver
Late 20th Century Asian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s British Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 10k Gold, White Gold
1990s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Garnet, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century British Romantic Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
19th Century British Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver, 18k Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Onyx, Jade, Diamond, Enamel, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century Burmese Retro Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century French Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Fire Opal, Ruby, Opal, Silver, Gold Plate, 22k Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Brass, 14k Gold, Gold Plate
2010s Turkish Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, Sterling Silver, Silver, Enamel
Late 20th Century Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Amethyst, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s American Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold,...
2010s Turkish Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Singaporean Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Topaz, 1...
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k 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.