Ruby Jewelry
1970s British Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1760s European Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver, Gold
Mid-19th Century Indian Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Greek Revival Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Modernist Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Black Opal, Ruby, Opal, Malachite, Hematite, Diamond, Agate, Sterling Si...
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Rock Crystal, Diamond, Crystal, Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Anglo-Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s British Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Citrine, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Neoclassical Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
1980s Unknown Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Indian Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sap...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Fre...
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Aesthetic Movement Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
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.