Antique Ruby Jewellery
These pieces of antique ruby jewellery range from Victorian cluster rings to Art Deco platinum settings, bringing deep red stones and diamonds together in gold.
Antique Ruby Jewellery
When you search for antique ruby jewellery, you encounter rings, brooches, pendants, necklaces, bangles, and lockets spanning the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, and mid-century periods.
The most common forms on this page are rings, particularly cluster rings, gypsy rings, and five stone bands combining rubies with diamonds in gold or platinum settings.
Pieces originate across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, incorporating pearls, opals, and paste alongside natural and unheated stones from sources such as Burma.
How they were made
Makers set rubies and diamonds into 9ct, 15ct, and 18ct yellow and rose gold, alongside platinum and sterling silver.
Techniques relied on hand-cut stones, including old cut and old mine cut diamonds, arranged in starbursts, navette styles, boat shapes, and floral clusters.
Antique Ruby Jewellery Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for ruby jewellery among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature 18ct gold, platinum, and silver alongside 9ct and 15ct gold, paired with diamonds, pearls, and opals.
What varies in quality
Quality depends on the origin and treatment of the rubies, distinguishing unheated Burmese stones from synthetic or simulated alternatives.
The precision of the setting work, the cut and clarity of accompanying diamonds, and the weight and purity of the gold or platinum structure determine the tier of the piece.
The Antique Ruby Jewellery Glossary
- Cluster ring
- A central gemstone surrounded by a border of smaller stones, typically diamonds framing a ruby. This arrangement maximises the visual impact of the coloured stone.
- Old cut diamond
- A precursor to the modern brilliant cut, shaped by hand with a smaller table and a higher crown. These stones display distinct facet patterns under magnification.
- Navette
- A boat-shaped setting that tapers to points at either end, popular in late nineteenth-century and Art Nouveau design. It sits lengthwise along the finger.
- Gypsy ring
- A band style where gemstones are flush-set directly into the thick metal hoop. This heavy gold construction was favoured in the late Victorian era for everyday wear.
- Trilogy ring
- A mounting featuring three principal stones set side by side, often representing the past, present, and future. In these listings, rubies and diamonds alternate in the row.
Antique Ruby Jewellery: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date antique ruby rings?
Dating relies on hallmark evidence, metal standards such as 15ct gold which was discontinued in Britain in 1932, and specific design motifs like Edwardian boat settings or Art Deco geometric platinum work.
Changes in stone cutting styles, from old mine cuts to later brilliant cuts, also provide reliable chronological markers when combined with the mounting characteristics.
Are all antique rubies natural?
Not all stones in period pieces are natural mined rubies, as synthetic and simulated stones appear alongside unheated Burmese gems in pieces spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Checking documentation and examining inclusions under magnification helps identify the origin and treatment history of the red stones.
Can I wear an antique ruby ring daily?
Rubies rank nine on the Mohs hardness scale, making them durable enough for regular wear when set securely in robust gold or platinum bands.
Thinner antique bands, particularly Victorian or Edwardian examples, benefit from occasional checks by a jeweller to ensure the claws hold the stones firmly.