Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Platinum
1970s Swiss Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Stainless Steel
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s American Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Swiss Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century French Retro Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Onyx, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
20th Century American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Coral, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver...
2010s Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
1950s Greek Revival Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Spinel, Ruby, Paraiba, Tourmaline, Green Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue S...
21st Century and Contemporary Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1870s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Onyx, Ruby, 9k Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k 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.