Ruby Jewelry
2010s Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
2010s British Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold
1930s Portuguese Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver
1960s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
1880s American Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s British Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century Retro Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s German Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Moonstone, Opal, Quartz, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Malachite, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold
1910s Unknown Edwardian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1970s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s German Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k 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.