Ruby Jewelry
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Victorian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Vermeil, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Green Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Opal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, Aquamarine, Vermeil, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, Aquamarine, Vermeil, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Bronze
2010s North American Early Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
1890s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
2010s British Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
2010s Asian Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Quartz, Ruby, Rose Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s North American Early Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Labradorite, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Tanzanite, Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, Emerald, White Diamond, Citrine, Sterli...
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Tanzanite, Sapphire, Ruby, Opal, Emerald, White Diamond, Citrine, Sterli...
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Bronze
2010s British Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
1880s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Labradorite, Ruby, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s North American Early Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Enamel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s American Victorian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Bronze
2010s British Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 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.