Ruby Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
20th Century Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold,...
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Peridot, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Indian Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Si...
1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold
1910s Russian Art Nouveau Vintage Ruby Jewelry
Garnet, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s American Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire
Mid-20th Century Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Russian Empire Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Silver, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Apatite, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Thai Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century European Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Ruby, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Italian Artisan Ruby Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Classical Greek Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century English Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Ruby Jewelry
Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Peridot,...
Mid-20th Century Retro Ruby Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Ruby Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k 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.