Ruby Jewelry
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 2000s American Renaissance Revival Ruby Jewelry
Garnet, Ruby, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Topaz, Ruby, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Russian Russian Empire Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
2010s Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Enamel
1980s Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Sri Lankan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1850s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby, Quartz, Emerald, Citrine, Amethyst...
Early 18th Century American Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Classical Greek Ruby Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, D...
21st Century and Contemporary Singaporean Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Green Sapphire, Blue Topaz, Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby, Silver, Gold Plate, 1...
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century American Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k 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.