Ruby Jewelry
2010s Dutch Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Moonstone, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s North American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18...
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
1980s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
1950s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1970s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Ruby Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century French Modernist Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1850s Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1930s American Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
1940s Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, White Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s European Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s Thai Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s European Modern Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Aquamarine, Rose Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
2010s Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Vermeil, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k 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.