Ruby Jewelry
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Coral, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Go...
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century Indian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Amethyst, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k...
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Coral, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century Indian Retro Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Tsavorite, Ruby, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Indian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Indian Retro Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
20th Century Indian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, W...
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Onyx, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s African Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Cat’s Eye, Silv...
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1960s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Coral, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Onyx, Diamond, Agate, White Gold, 14k Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Coral, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
Late 20th Century North American Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
1950s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Emerald, Ruby, Gold
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1940s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1940s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1940s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 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.