Ruby Jewelry
Early 1900s European Retro Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Green Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s French Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s European Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s Turkish Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s Asian Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s European Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 1900s Russian Art Deco Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s American Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s European Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s Russian Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s American Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
Early 1900s European Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 1900s European Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold
Early 1900s American Modern Antique Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s European Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Russian Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s European Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 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.