Ruby Jewelry
1990s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Enamel
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s Unknown Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s African Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Sterling Silver, Platinum, Silver
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
2010s French Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Carnelian, Diamond, Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Gold Plate...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Morganite, Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Belle Époque Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Whi...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 24k Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Classical Greek Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gol...
2010s British Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1920s Edwardian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Aquamarine, Silver, Rose Gold, ...
Mid-20th Century Greek Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Swiss Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary 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.