Ruby Jewelry
20th Century Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Stainless Steel
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Mid-20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1990s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Jade, Diamond, Enamel, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Mozambican Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
Late 20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Retro Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Burmese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century British Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1920s European Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold
1990s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, 18k Gold
1990s European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
20th Century Modern Ruby Jewelry
Chalcedony, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Silver
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s British Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Quartz, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1990s European Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
2010s Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k 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.