Ruby Jewelry
1860s British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Rock Crystal, Ruby, 18k Gold
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Natural Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1890s French Revival Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Quartz, Labradorite, Coral, Agate, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Natural Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Platinum
Mid-19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Russian Russian Empire Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century British Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Russian Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Cultured Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1960s Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s Italian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s German Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
1980s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Tourmaline, Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby, Garnet, Emerald, Aquamarine, Amethyst...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s British Modern Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Gold
2010s Hong Kong Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Star Ruby, Ruby, Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Singaporean Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1910s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
1890s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American 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.