Ruby Jewelry
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1940s Swiss Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1980s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s English Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plat...
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
1970s Greek Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gol...
1980s Italian Modernist Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Anglo-Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1970s American Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1890s Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1890s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Turquoise, Ruby, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Anglo-Indian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold Plate
1830s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai British Colonial Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Palladium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Opal, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1970s French Modernist Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 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.