Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s French High Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Agate, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century American Artist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold,...
1760s European Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1950s Dutch Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1940s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Burmese Retro Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Singaporean Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Carnelian, Diamond, Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Fire Opal, 14k Gold, Vermeil, S...
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1880s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Finnish Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Greek Revival Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow ...
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 22k Gold, Enamel
1970s Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Zircon, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1980s Thai Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Chrysophrase, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold
1990s European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century European Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Tourmaline, Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1940s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 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.