Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Taiwanese Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1940s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s British Ruby Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1940s Unknown Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century European Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s European Retro Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Ruby Jewelry
Tanzanite, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1880s English Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
18th Century Georgian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby
Early 20th Century Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Spanish Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, White Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
20th Century Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Green Sapphire, Yellow Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
Late 20th Century European Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1840s Early Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1980s European Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow 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.