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Horse Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Pair of playful 18K gold frolicking horses with brilliant ruby eyes. Well detailed and proportioned.
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Missiaglia Flower Brooch
By Missiaglia 1846
Located in Venice, IT
Stunningly Detailed Missiaglia Flower Brooch completely handmade by Venetian Goldsmiths in 18k
Category

2010s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Timeless Flight: Handcrafted 18kt Gold Dragonfly Brooch with Precious Gems
Located in Lugano, CH
immortalized in gold and precious gems. Those who choose to adorn themselves with this brooch communicate to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold and Rubies Venetian Gondolier Hat Broach and Pendant
By Missiaglia 1846
Located in Venice, IT
Hand made broach in Yellow 18KT gold with 1.32 carats of Rubies. Can be worn as a broach or a
Category

2010s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Fine Carriage-Shaped Brooch
Located in Palermo, IT
, in yellow and white gold, with enamel, ruby, carré and diamonds. Measurements mm: 30,4x20,2x10
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

18 Karat Enamel Flower Cart Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K yellow gold whimisical vendor and cart brooch. It has eight bright red round rubies and
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Italian Made Green Enamel Frog Pin in Yellow Gold
Located in Carmel, CA
gold body. The eyes are made with 2 ruby gemstones weighing a combined total of .13 carats. The pin
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Spectacular Venetian Ruby Gold Noble Blackamoor Pin
Located in New York City, NY
Venetian enameled gold Noble Blackamoor pin enriched with diamonds and ruby beads
Category

Italian Brooches

Antique Crown of the Doge of Venice Brooch
Located in London, GB
have been making their interpretations of the Crown for the Grand Tour visitors. This Ruby rich version
Category

Antique 1870s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Pin Colibrì with Rubies, Diamonds and Grey Pearl in Gold 18 Karats
Located in Milano, IT
Pin Colibrì in Yellow and detailed White Gold 18 karats and Rubies, Diamonds and a central grey
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Jade, Gold

1960s Pair of Italian Mushroom Pins
Located in London, GB
18ct Gold Pins are set with Diamonds, Cabochon Rubies , Emerald and Sapphires
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Mario Buccellati Parrot Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
Handmade 18 karat yellow gold vintage parrot pin ,with carved ruby and sapphire accents, signed M
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Buccellati Natural Color Diamond Butterfly Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
Two tone 18 karat yellow and rose gold butterfly pin set with full cut colorless and canary diamond
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Gem Set Butterfly
Located in New York, NY
Gem set, 18k gold, handmade Italian Butterfly
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Coral Pendant
Located in New York, NY
1960's Modern Large Coral Carved & Gem-Set (Diamond, Emerald, Ruby) Pendant
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Italian Sapphire Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Earrings and Brooch set
Located in Roma, IT
The set comprising a pair of earrings and a brooch. Italy. Yellow gold 18K set with diamonds
Category

20th Century Italian Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

PAOLO PIOVAN Gold Ruby Diamond Flowers Brooch and Earrings
By Paolo Piovan Gioielli
Located in Verona, IT
18kt yellow gold, diamond and ruby earrings and brooch handmade in Italy and signed Paolo Piovan.
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Ruby Gold Eagle Brooch Pin
Located in Napoli, NA
Magnificent Eagle 18k Yellow and White Gold Brooch Pin decorated with an allover pattern of black
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Italy 18K Yellow Gold Ruby Turquoise Pearl Ballerina Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A whimsical and finely crafted brooch in the form of a ballerina, rendered in 18K yellow gold is
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Turquoise, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Frascarolo Italy Diamond Ruby Enamel Gold Duck Brooch
By Frascarolo
Located in Napoli, NA
An iconic 18kt yellow gold brooch by northern Italian master Frascarolo, representing a Duck
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Estate Retro Era 18KT Yellow Gold Italian Ruby Circular Brooch
Located in New York, NY
The estate retro era 18KT yellow gold Italian ruby circular brooch is a timeless piece that boasts
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Yellow Gold

Ruby Diamond White Gold Brooch
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Delightful rubies leaves shaped brooch in 14Kt white gold surrounded by diamonds. rubies (1.34 Kt
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold

Italian Tremblant Sapphire Ruby 18K Yellow Gold Floral Basket Brooch
Located in Boca Raton, FL
This stunning 18 karat yellow gold Tremblant Brooch is a beautiful example of Italian craftsmanship
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. Ruby Gold Heart Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Darnestown, MD
Double open heart brooch by Tiffany and Co. in 18 karat gold. Six rubies are interspersed
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Ruby and Yellow Gold Dachshund Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning 0.30 carat ruby and 18 karat yellow gold, 18 karat white gold set Dachshund dog brooch
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. Ruby Gold Floral Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Darnestown, MD
Beautifully textured and dimensional Floral Brooch by Tiffany and Co. The center is a domed cluster
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Italian 18k Yellow Gold Sapphire Ruby Cat Brooch Brushed Textured Stripe Gold
Located in Bernardsville, NJ
cat enthusiast. Material: 18k Yellow Gold, Italy Weight: 5.8 grams Brooch dimensions: 51.2 mm long
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modernist Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Topaz Citrine Ruby Gold Flower Brooch
By Legnazzi
Located in Napoli, NA
62.0 grams. Origin Italy. circa 1950 * the brooch is professionally tested by our internal
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold

Italian Roma 18K Gold Sapphire Emerald and Ruby Floral Brooch Circa 1960s
Located in New York, NY
This sculptural brooch exemplifies mid-century Italian goldsmithing. The organic branch motif is
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

1950s Italian diamond and invisible setting ruby brooch
Located in London, GB
This elegant 1950s 18k gold brooch is made in Italy using approximately 2 carats diamonds. Made
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Tiffany Co. 18K Gold Butterfly Brooch, Ruby Sapphire, 1960s Italy
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Tiffany & Co. butterfly brooch crafted in 18K yellow gold, featuring a delicate design
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro Ruby Sapphire 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Italian Bunny Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Textured gold wire body, head, tail and floppy ears With two tiny round cut sapphire eyes
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Pederzani Invisible Setting Ruby Diamond Flower Brooch Yellow White Gold Italian
By Pederzani
Located in Lisbon, PT
Pederzani invisibly-set ruby and diamond flower brooch in 18kt yellow and white gold, late 20th
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

1960s Turquoise Ruby Gold Sea Turtle Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Turquoise and Ruby Sea Turtle Brooch Circa 1960 It is so easy to fall in love with sea turtles
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Gold Fish Brooch with Rubies
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Darnestown, MD
Wonderfully whimsical gold fish brooch by Tiffany with ruby highlights throughout the body and a
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Diamonds Rubies and Sapphires Wagtail Gold Brooch
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Retro Brooch in 18Kt Yellow Gold composed of Diamonds, Rubies and Sapphires Diamonds ct 0.83 Rubies
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Mario Buccellati Cabochon Ruby Sapphire Gold Brooch
Located in Firenze, IT
Designed as a flower, with cabochon cut rubies and sapphire. Mounted in 18Kt Gold Signed M
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Cartier Teddy Bear Brooch Ruby Turquoise Gold
By Cartier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cartier ruby turquoise and gold teddy bear brooch circa 1960. The smiling teddy bear waves his
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Buccellati 1960s Diamond Ruby and Gold Dragonfly Brooch
By Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Mid-20th Century 18 karat white and yellow gold brooch with rubies and diamonds by
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Italian Midcentury Burmese Ruby and Diamond Brooch in 18k Yellow and White Gold
Located in Miami, FL
An Italian mid-century ruby and diamond brooch circa 1950, set in 18K yellow and white gold
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Italian 18K Gold Fly Brooch with Citrine Gemstone Body Ruby Eyes
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Beautiful Bug's Life - Vintage Italian Citrine & Ruby Fly Brooch in 18K Gold Add a whimsical
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mario Buccellati Ruby Diamond Silver Gold Lace Brooch
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Austin, TX
The beautifully worked brooch by Mario Buccellati features a single faceted ruby (approximately 1
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Italian multi gem Gold Flower Brooch
Located in Napoli, NA
This vivacious vintage floral brooch with fine emeralds, sapphires and ruby is crafted in solid 18K
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Stunning Leaping Frog Enamel Ruby Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated brooch features a rich emerald green enamel inset detailing with accents of
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Medieval Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold

Diamond Ruby Yellow Gold Teddy Bear Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Diamond and ruby gold Italian teddy bear brooch circa 1970. * ABOUT THIS ITEM: #P-DJ29A. Scroll
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Handcraft Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold Ruby Brooch
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
natural rubies Brooch Weight 12.60 grams Diamonds Weight 5 karat Ruby weight 10 karat
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

18 Karat Gold Diamond and Ruby Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Designed as butterfly, the body decorated with circular-cut rubies, the wings set with single
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Rubies, Diamonds, Pearl, 18 Karat Rose Gold Brooch.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
covered by the seller (customs duties included). Beautiful brooch in 18 kt rose gold structure mounted
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Luise Classical 18 kt Gold Brooch with Rubies
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
, ITEMS AT AUCTIONS AND ONGOING PROMOTIONS. Classical 18 kt gold brooch with rubies, representing
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Cellino Italy 1960 Frog Brooch In 14Kt Yellow Gold With Rubies And Nephrite Jade
By Cellino
Located in Miami, FL
Frog pin brooch designed by Cellino. Beautiful little brooch, created in Italy during the mid
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modernist Brooches

Materials

Jade, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sabbadini Invisible Set Ruby Diamond Emerald Gold Bee Brooch
By Sabbadini
Located in New York, NY
Adorable 18k yellow gold bee brooch, by Italian designer Sabbadini. Featuring invisible set rubies
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold

Sabbadini Invisible set Gold Ruby and Diamond Flower Brooch
By Sabbadini
Located in Chicago, IL
Sabbadini of Italy 18k White Gold Flower form Brooch, measuring 1 3/8 inches in diameter, Invisibly
Category

1990s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. 18K Yellow Gold Ruby Diamond Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Baltimore, MD
Tiffany & Co. 18K Yellow Gold Ruby & Diamond Brooch Pin Metal: 18k yellow gold Weight: 8.83 grams
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cazzaniga Emerald Sapphire Ruby Diamond Gold Insect Brooch
By Cazzaniga
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 18k, Cazzaniga, Rome, Italy. This one-of-a-kind jeweled brooch by Cazzaniga of Rome is
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Amazonite, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Faraone Rubies Brooch 60 s
Located in Milano, MI
As we would expect from Faraone this brooch boasts the highest quality rubies and diamonds together
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

TOLIRO 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Enamel Snake Brooch
By Toliro
Located in New York, NY
Italy TOLIRO 18K yellow gold diamond ruby green black and white enamel snake brooch with pave-set
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, Gold

Handcraft Cameo 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby Diamonds Brooch
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
message to solve the problem. 14 karat yellow gold brooch. Handmade by our craftsmen assembled with cameo
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Italian Gold Rubies Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate italian gold rubies brooch for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 40 vintage editions and 4 modern creations to choose from as well. Making the right choice when shopping for a italian gold rubies brooch may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 20th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. For this particular accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but versions are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic italian gold rubies brooch over the years, but those made by Giovane, Gilberto Cassola and Margherita Burgener are often thought to be among the most beautiful. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also cabochon cut and brilliant cut cut versions available here, too. Finding a italian gold rubies brooch for sale for women should be easy, but there are 16 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is an Italian Gold Rubies Brooch?

On average, a italian gold rubies brooch at 1stDibs sells for $2,725, while they’re typically $880 on the low end and $24,527 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

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.

Finding the Right Brooches for You

Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.

While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like GucciVersaceDior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step. 

Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.

At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.

Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.

Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.