Vintage Ruby and Diamond
Vintage ruby and diamond pieces combine rich red corundum with brilliant gemstones across rings, brooches and pendants spanning multiple decades.
Vintage Ruby and Diamond
A search for vintage ruby and diamond brings together cluster rings, dress rings, brooches, pendants and cufflinks originating from the Victorian era through the mid-twentieth century.
The selections on this page feature Edwardian boat rings, Art Deco geometric settings, and substantial mid-century cocktail pieces alongside floral and starburst motifs.
Makers utilised yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum as structural metals to frame the contrasting red stones and clear diamonds.
Materials and construction
Goldsmiths combined yellow and rose gold with platinum-topped mountings to secure old-cut diamonds and rubies in precise claw, bezel and channel settings.
Pendants, bangles and brooches incorporated intricate pierced work, millegrain edging, and multi-gem arrangements alongside standard ring shanks.
Vintage Ruby and Diamond Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage ruby and diamond 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.
An equestrian racing brooch and a multi-gem rabbit demonstrate the whimsical animal motifs popular mid-century.
Assessing the work
Distinction across these items lies in the clarity and origin of the rubies, the precision of the diamond cutting, and the structural integrity of the precious metal mount.
Subtleties in hand-carved detailing, matching stone proportions, and well-preserved maker marks elevate certain examples above standard commercial production.
Garrard and Co·Kutchinsky
The Vintage Ruby and Diamond Glossary
- Cluster ring
- A jewellery design featuring a central gemstone surrounded by a border of smaller stones, typically diamonds encircling a ruby.
- Old-cut diamond
- A hand-faceted diamond cut before modern brilliant standards were established, characterised by a smaller table and a high crown.
- Navette
- A boat-shaped or marquise setting that tapers to points at either end, frequently utilised in Edwardian and Art Nouveau rings.
- Millegrain
- A decorative technique involving a line of tiny metal beads along the edges of a setting, common in Edwardian and Art Deco jewellery.
- Trilogy ring
- A ring set with three stones in a row, often interpreted to represent the past, present and future.
Vintage Ruby and Diamond: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for my vintage ruby and diamond jewellery?
Clean these pieces gently using warm soapy water and a soft brush, avoiding harsh ultrasonic cleaners that might damage natural inclusions within the rubies.
Store items separately in fabric pouches to prevent the diamonds from scratching softer gold settings and other gemstones.
What periods do these ruby and diamond pieces cover?
The inventory spans Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, and mid-century design periods, reflecting shifting aesthetics from intricate floral clusters to geometric platinum mountings.
Earlier nineteenth-century examples often feature yellow gold and old-cut diamonds, whereas mid-century items lean towards heavier gold weights and varied cluster silhouettes.
Are all rubies in these pieces natural?
The listings include natural stones originating from sources such as Burma, often documented with specific carat weights in antique and vintage settings.
Gemstone reports sometimes accompany unheated specimens to verify their origin and lack of thermal enhancement.
Can I wear a vintage ruby ring every day?
Rubies possess a high hardness rating on the Mohs scale, making them durable enough for regular daily wear when set securely in robust gold or platinum bands.
Prongs and settings should be checked periodically by a professional jeweller to ensure the stones remain firm.