Ruby Jewelry
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century Thai Classical Greek Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Si...
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Vermeil, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Star Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Sri Lankan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
Late 20th Century Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s European Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Si...
1980s Spanish Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Classical Roman Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Asian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Sapp...
1960s British Post-War Vintage Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1930s Swedish Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1920s European Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Peridot, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea...
2010s Thai Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Topaz, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, S...
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
Early 1800s Italian Retro Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1990s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s Dutch Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s American Renaissance Ruby Jewelry
Agate, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Spinel, Emerald, Silver, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century European Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Jade, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Apatite, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1990s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Hematite, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Spanish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 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.