Ruby Jewelry
1950s Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Romantic Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Classical Roman Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Peridot, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Blue Topaz, Tourmaline, Topaz, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, Cit...
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Egyptian Revival Ruby Jewelry
Chrysophrase, Ruby, Bronze
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Topaz, Ruby, Quartz, Silver, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1990s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Asian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Quartz, Ruby, Sterling Silver
1910s French Edwardian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
Early 20th Century European Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Neoclassical Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Russian Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Garnet, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire
2010s Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Peridot, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Pla...
21st Century and Contemporary English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, Sil...
Early 20th Century French Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Russian Empire Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Gilt Metal
Early 20th Century Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 10k Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Asian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century Thai Egyptian Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century French Modern Ruby Jewelry
Chalcedony, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Anglo-Indian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Gilt Metal
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
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.