Ruby Jewelry
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s British Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s British Regency Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1820s European Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 15k Gold, 9k Gold
1840s Early Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Beryl, Garnet, Ruby, Gold
1880s French Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1880s Spanish Tudor Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire
1880s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1830s Unknown Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Modern Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Unknown Artist Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
1880s European Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1870s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1860s European Etruscan Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Chrysoberyl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1890s American Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Crystal, Diamond, Opal, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1870s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 9k Gold
1870s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1840s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Onyx, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, Silver, 18k ...
1880s English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Moonstone, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
1860s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Enamel
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s European Belle Époque Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
19th Century Unknown Artist Antique Ruby Jewelry
Moonstone, Ruby, Gold
19th Century American Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1870s French Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1890s English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
Late 19th Century Scottish Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s American Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Silver
Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 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.