French Ruby
Vintage 1980s French Retro Link Bracelets
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Edwardian Fashion Rings
Diamond
Vintage 1940s French Retro Wrist Watches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French More Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French More Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Belle Époque Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1890s Belle Époque Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1970s French Retro Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Cluster Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
French More Bracelets
Vintage 1910s Belle Époque Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Retro Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wedding Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Retro Dome Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s French Lever-Back Earrings
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s French Retro Retro Bracelets
Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Vases
Blown Glass
Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Vintage 1920s Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Dome Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s French Contemporary Link Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Belle Époque Engagement Rings
Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modern Retro Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18...
Vintage 1950s Band Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Louis XV More Dining and Entertaining
Late 20th Century Fashion Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Contemporary Brooches
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century French Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Cufflinks
Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique 1880s French Glass
Marble, Ormolu
20th Century French Belle Époque Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Link Bracelets
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Decorative Boxes
Crystal
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French Ruby For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French 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.