Ruby Jewelry
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1830s Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yell...
Mid-19th Century Renaissance Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold, Silver, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Enamel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Silver, Gilt Metal
1880s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold
19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Diamond, Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century North American Modern Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Etruscan Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1820s Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, Pinchbeck
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s American Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century American High Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Enamel
19th Century Unknown Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century Romanian Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1880s Austrian High Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Silver
Early 19th Century Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century American Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
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.