Ruby Jewelry
1990s European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling...
Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold, 9k ...
1960s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1940s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s American Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Stainless Steel
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1960s Greek Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Mozambican Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century German Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
20th Century French Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century North American Byzantine Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yello...
1940s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1960s American Modernist Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Ruby Jewelry
Chalcedony, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s French Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Go...
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
1960s North American Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s North American Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Aquamarine, Rose Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold,...
1960s English Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1950s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
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.