Ruby Jewelry
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century European Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century North American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1990s European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Mixed Metal
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s German Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Agate, Amber, Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Swedish Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Ye...
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1920s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Emerald, Ruby, Sterling Silver
1980s Classical Roman Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Chrysophrase, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Anglo-Indian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s European Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Stainless Steel
1910s Edwardian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, ...
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1950s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1940s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s American Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, 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.