Ruby Jewelry
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Artisan Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s British Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Moonstone, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Portuguese Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Gold
1950s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
1950s Unknown Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
1950s French Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
1950s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapp...
1950s Unknown Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Dutch Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum
1950s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Onyx, Diamond, 9k Gold, Silver, Rose Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Artisan Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1950s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Coral,...
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s French Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Silver
1950s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, 9k...
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 9k Gold, ...
1950s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Artisan Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
1950s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k 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.