Ruby Jewelry
Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Star Ruby, Ruby, Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Garnet, White Diamond, Diamond, Citrine...
1940s Italian Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1980s Classical Roman Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold
1960s Greek Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 2000s German Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Mozambican Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1940s French Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Modernist Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White 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
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 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
2010s Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Rhodium, 18k Go...
1960s North American Contemporary Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s North American Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Quartz, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Aquamarine, Rose Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
1930s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Ro...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
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.