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Snake Rings With Ruby Eyes

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Serpentine Diamond and Ruby Pave 14k Solid Gold Snake Ring
Located in Miami, FL
14k solid gold handmade serpentine ring with Ruby eyes and diamond encrusted head. Carved etching
Category

2010s American Modernist More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian Style Triple Snake Ring with Gemstones
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
, Vs clarity on average. The piece is further adorned by rubies set in the eyes of each snake. Snake
Category

2010s English Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian .30 Carat Diamond, Ruby and 14 Karat Gold Snake Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
0.30 carats total, G/H color and VS to SI clarity With petite round cut ruby eyes, approximately 0.04
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Victorian 12 Karat Gold Rose Cut Diamond and Ruby Snake Ring
Located in Fairfield, CT
ruby eyes. Snakes in the jewelry setting have varied throughout history as to what they have
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold

Gold Snake Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
, this snake ring is visually arresting and smartly au courant. Finely fashioned in polished 18k yellow
Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1960s Gold Snake Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
love them for their exotic charm." SIZE: Ring size 7 WEIGHT: 7.4 grams STONES: ruby eyes
Category

Vintage 1960s Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond and Ruby Eye Double Headed Snake Ring in Rose Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
in 18k rose gold. Four rubies adorn the snake eyes. Set with approximately total 1.46 carat weight of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Diamond and Ruby Eye Double Headed Snake Ring in Rose Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
in 18k rose gold. Four rubies adorn the snake eyes. Set with approximately total 1.46 carat weight of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
A very Nice, Period coiled Snake Ring of 18K Yellow gold and set with 1.50 Carats of Old Mine Cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Art Deco Inspired Diamond Emerald Ruby Snake Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
are searching for the perfect snake ring. We think, this is the one, an Art Deco inspired snake ring
Category

2010s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Antique 18ct Rose Gold, Georgian Rose Cut Diamond Ruby Snake Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Snake Ring 18ct Rose Gold Tested Circa 1840s This antique Georgian snake ring is a
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Gold Snake Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1910, 18k, American. One of mankind's earliest jewelry motifs; snake rings and bracelets are
Category

Vintage 1910s American Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Tiffany Snake Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
design, this charming snake ring is smartly au courant. The textured 18k gold is accented by a vibrant
Category

Antique 1880s American Fashion Rings

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Estate 18K Yellow Gold Black Star Sapphire and Ruby Snake Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Vintage Estate 18K Yellow Gold Black Star Sapphire and Ruby Snake Ring. This beautiful
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, Star Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Victorian Ruby Diamond 14K Rose Gold Antique Lovers Knot Snake Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as two sleek and entwined snake heads flush set with a ruby and diamond Juxtaposed toi-et
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

9ct Rose Gold London Hallmarked 1980s Double Headed Ruby Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
rose gold double-headed snake ring is truly stunning. The intricate design features one snake with ruby
Category

Late 20th Century English Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian Ruby Diamond Blue Enamel 18 Karat Gold Antique Snake Antique Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
in color - minimal loss Centering navette-shaped rubies in heads and round cut ruby eyes Weighing
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

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

18K Gold Coil Snake Ring with Emeralds and Diamonds
Located in Nantucket, MA
diamond and has small round faceted rubies for the eyes. The height of the ring is 1" and there is a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Deco Diamond Set Snake Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
carat rose-cut diamond and ruby eyes, it has a look of jewelry from the ancients. Stylish, mystical, and
Category

Vintage 1960s American Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Rose Cut Diamonds Snake Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Coiled Snake Ring, 18K yellow Gold shank with a sterling silver top and Set with Rose Cut Diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

David Webb 18 Karat Gold Black Enamel Diamond Ruby Cocktail Snake Ring
By David Webb
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a remarkable cocktail ring designed by David Webb in 1970’s. A coiled snake with scales of
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Ruby Snake Ring Vintage 14k Rose Gold 3 Bands Coiled Serpent Fine Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed vintage snake ring, crafted in 14 karat rose gold. Rubies total an estimated 0.36
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian Old European Cut Diamond Ruby 10 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Snake Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Accented by bezel set 1.5 mm round ruby cabochon eyes Transparent medium purplish red in color Stamped for
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Snake Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
detailed 18K yellow gold in a dramatic snake design. Accented with two ruby eyes. Width: 45 mm. Shank: 3
Category

20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, Yellow Gold

David Webb 1970 s Ruby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Knotted Snake Vintage Band Ring
By David Webb
Located in Philadelphia, PA
minimalist features and accented by ruby eyes Flush set and weighing approximately 0.04 carat total
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Skull and Snake Motif Ring
Located in Aspen, CO
Antique ring in 18K with platinum skulls which have rose cut diamond eyes. The intertwined snakes
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown High Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Gemstone Gold Three Snake Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Made of 14k yellow gold and decorated with three snakes, their heads and eyes set with gemstones. A
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

1970 s 1.00 CTW Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Vintage Snake Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
approximately 1.00 carat H color with VS2 clarity - accented by round cut ruby eyes Transparent medium red in
Category

Vintage 1970s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

1950 s Diamond Sapphire Ruby 18 Karat Two Tone Gold Cobra Snake Estate Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
throughout. The snake's head and body are set with diamonds, sapphires, and ruby eyes. The diamonds weigh
Category

Mid-20th Century American Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

David Webb Enamel Diamond Snake Ring
By David Webb
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Rich color hues decorate this lifelike snake ring as its body encircles your finger with a
Category

Late 20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Antique Gold Snake Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
head, eyes set with tiny rubies The ring is marked on tail with Russian 1899-1908 import mark
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian More Rings

Palmiero 11.64 Carats Diamonds Gold Snake Ring
By Palmiero
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
a pair of ruby-set eyes. This is among the finest examples of a snake motif ring we have had the
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold

Playful 4 headed Green Enamel Snake Ring
Located in New York, NY
Very unusual 18kt French Green enamel snake Ring with 4 heads & Ruby eyes. Highly unusual! Bears
Category

Vintage 1980s French Romantic Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Large Natural Pearl Diamond Gold Snake Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
small cabochon rubies rest in the eyes. The snake's body wraps around ones finger and then coils around
Materials

Natural Pearl, Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Diamond and Enamel Snake Ring
Located in Miami, FL
ascending in size, with two ruby eyes. This size 7 snake ring slithers onto your hand and coils around your
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique Diamond Set Double Snake Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
ancients". Especially fun one snake has diamond eyes and the other ruby eyes. Stylish, mystical, soulful
Category

Antique 1890s English Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Gold and Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
old-cut diamonds, with ruby eyes. The diamonds found on the snake's head weigh about 1.5 carat. The
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Malachite and Diamond Snake Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a fabulous snake ring taken from the Victorian period. This antique piece has been
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Malachite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Egyptian Revival Cleopatra s 18k Yellow Gold Snake Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This affordable antique Victorian revival snake ring is an heirloom to be treasured, crafted in 18
Category

Vintage 1980s Egyptian Revival Wedding Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

19th Century Ancient Relic Antique Victorian Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
history. Gaining popularity as the wedding ring King Albert married Queen Victoria with, snakes symbolize
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

18 Karat Gold Diamond Coiled Snake Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
A Victorian 18K gold coiled snake ring. The head of the snake is embellished with old mine cut
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

David Webb Enamel Diamond Gold Snake Ring
By David Webb
Located in Darnestown, MD
Coiled snake ring by David Webb. The body is green enamel with pave set diamond face and tail. Eyes
Category

Vintage 1970s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Abalone Mother-of-Pearl Yellow Gold Cobra Snake Ring
Located in Miami, FL
, highlighted by approximately 3cts of black and white diamonds and ruby eyes. The ring is a size 7 and can be
Category

20th Century American More Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Egyptian Revival Rose Cut Diamond 18k Rose Gold Snake Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This circa 1970s snake ring is crafted in solid 18 karat rose gold, crowned with a natural rose cut
Category

Vintage 1970s Egyptian Revival Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Boucheron Tourmaline Ruby Emerald Python Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Henderson, NV
rhodium. It represents a snake entirely set with rubies, emerald eyes, coiled around an oval tourmaline
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old Mine Cut Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
appears larger than it is. The eyes of the snake are cabochon rubies and the ring has a very impressive
Category

Antique 18th Century Unknown Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K Snake and Pate de Verre Egg Ring
Located in New York, NY
Oversized Italian cocktail ring in 18K gold with Pate de Verre glass. 3 finely detailed snakes are
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

18k Gold

Large Victorian Sapphire Diamond 14 Karat Gold Unisex Bypass Snake Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Bypass style ring designed as a coiling snake pavé set throughout by diamonds and sapphires
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Revival Antique Diamond Serpent Snake Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
encrusted scales and provocative ruby eyes. Snakes have been associated with rebirth, eternal love and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Antique Cushion Diamond and Gold Entwined Double Snake Ring, circa 1900
Located in Firenze, IT
and ruby eyes, the bodies looping in and out, textured Size : 8 Weight: 21gr.
Category

Antique Early 1900s Italian Belle Époque Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Egyptian Revival 1930 Art Deco Sculpted Cobra Ring 18Kt Yellow Gold with Rubies
Located in Miami, FL
. Rubies: The eyes are mount with a pair of round cut of natural vivid red rubies, with a combined weight
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Scarce 19th Century South Indian Gold Snake Twin Gimmel Ring Sapphire Emerald
Located in London, GB
intertwined double snake ring. Intricate and unusual in design, this ring crafted was a challenging
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Indian Victorian Wedding Rings

Materials

Chrysoberyl, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 22k Gold

Edwardian French 1.16 CTW Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Gold Snake Engagement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
1.5 mm round ruby and emerald cabochon eyes Transparent medium red and green, respectively - flush set
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Pear Diamond Orange Black White Enamel Coiled Serpent Snake Ring Yellow Gold
Located in Lisbon, PT
A contemporary diamond and polychrome enamel serpent snake cocktail or dress ring in 19.2 karat
Category

2010s Portuguese Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

1.60 Carat Diamond Snake Ring Estate 14 Karat White Gold Diamond Back Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Stylish diamondback snake ring set with black and white diamonds in 14k white gold. Black and
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Band Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Victorian 10k Yellow Gold Enamel and Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
head with a ruby for the eyes. There is some enamel loss on the snake as can be seen in the pictures
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Victorian Ruby Snake Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have an antique ruby set snake ring from the Victorian era. The snake takes on a coiled
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Snake Rings With Ruby Eyes For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of snake rings with ruby eyes. All of the items for sale were constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, 18k gold and yellow gold. Our selection of items includes 263 vintage examples as well as 146 contemporary versions. Our inventory is broad and distinctive, with accessories on offer that were made as long ago as the 18th Century to those produced as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of snake rings with ruby eyes to choose from, but Victorian and contemporary snake rings with ruby eyes are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made iterations of these items over the years, but those made by J DAUPHIN, David Webb and Ilias Lalaounis are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Browse our collection of 282 ruby versions today to add the perfect touch to your look. Today, if you’re looking for round cut snake rings with ruby eyes and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes brilliant cut and rose cut alternatives. When shopping our range of snake rings with ruby eyes, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Snake Rings With Ruby Eyes?

Prices for snake rings with ruby eyes start at $220 and top out at $66,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $2,625.

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 Rings for You

Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry

The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.