Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1960s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Italian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Ruby Jewelry
Green Sapphire, Spinel, Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline, Amethyst, Aquamari...
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1930s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1980s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1970s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Spanish Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s British Modern Ruby Jewelry
Topaz, Multi-gemstone, Peridot, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapp...
1980s German Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Romantic Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Swiss Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1990s American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1960s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Arts and Crafts Ruby Jewelry
Star Ruby, Ruby
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Silver
2010s American Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
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.