African Ruby
American Fashion Rings
2010s Italian Cocktail Rings
Ruby, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Artisan Dangle Earrings
Ruby, Diamond, 24k Gold
2010s American Modern Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
Citrine, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Loose Gemstones
Ruby
2010s Unknown Loose Gemstones
Ruby
20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Agate, Aquamarine, Ruby, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Solitaire Rings
2010s American Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s Indian Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Silver, Yellow Gold, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Cluster Rings
Ruby, Topaz, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Ruby, Amethyst, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Thai Baroque Band Rings
Jade, Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Silver, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s European Retro Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, 14k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, Topaz, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 20th Century Thai Retro Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Chinese Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Ruby, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Ruby, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver, Rose Gold
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, Topaz, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling...
Late 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Anklets
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Thai Retro Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
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African Ruby For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is an African Ruby?
The Legacy of Ruby in Jewelry Design
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.
- Are African rubies valuable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Comparable in quality to the Burmese rubies, African rubies are considered quite valuable. They can cost up to $1,400 per carat depending on the quality.