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One of nature’s most valuable gemstones, ruby rings are the epitome of passion and love. Whether you prefer the elegant beauty of a solitaire, the romantic ideals of a crossover, or the timelessness of three stone rings, each antique ruby ring in our collection has a unique allure.
At Berganza, we have lovingly curated a collection of some of the finest vintage ruby rings, featuring natural and unenhanced gems, the majority from Burma. With Burmese ruby rings becoming increasingly rare, they are highly sought after by both collectors and investors alike.
Known for exemplifying devotion, it is no surprise that ruby engagement rings have proven popular over the years. From Elizabeth Taylor’s pigeon blood ruby and diamond ring, a romantic gesture from Richard Burton, or the more contemporary charm of one of Victoria Beckham’s engagement rings, the ruby is timeless.
Throughout history, the skill that has gone into ruby rings is truly to be marvelled at. From mesmerising Georgian ruby clusters to the ornate carved ruby and diamond rings favoured by the Victorians, across the centuries jewellers have favoured rubies as a dazzling centrepiece for design, with each piece expertly handcrafted down to the finest of details.
Perhaps it is the bold Art Deco ruby rings that have caught your eye, or indeed maybe you are searching for a vintage piece from a renowned jewellery house, and with incredibly unique ruby rings by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Boucheron and more, you need look no further!
For those captivated by the everlasting allure of antique and vintage ruby rings, we would be delighted to welcome you to the Berganza showroom in Hatton Garden where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of these rare rings.
Rubies are a red gemstone and come from the corundum family of gemstones, after diamonds corundums are the second hardest natural mineral. Most rubies have a strong, deep red colour, although this differs depending on the specific ruby stone. Rubies were a popular choice for jewellery pieces made throughout history due to the belief that they would protect the wearer and keep them healthy, as well as being a sign of wealth. Vintage and antique ruby rings continue to be a popular jewellery choice thanks to their timeless style and elegance, with Art Deco ruby rings particularly popular, as often the beautiful red colour of the rubies is complemented with accompanying diamonds, creating a stunning diamond ruby ring.
For years, rubies have been seen as the 'stone of kings' across many different cultures. The ruby stone is said to symbolise power and wealth and it was said that owning a ruby offered the owner protection. People also believe that wearing a ruby on the left of their person would allow them to live a peaceful life. The deep red colour of the ruby led many early cultures to believe that rubies held the power of life and healing. The ruby continues to be a symbol of wealth, after centuries of association with royal families and the upper classes. There is also the belief that rubies bring health, wealth and wisdom to the wearer, which is why they make such great gift ideas. Rubies are still a very much sought after gem. Thanks to its history with the upper classes, there are plenty of unique and opulent vintage and antique ruby rings available to buy today.
Rubies are very tough and can easily withstand the general rigor of day to day wear, registering 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness You can easily clean your antique or vintage ruby ring at home. Simply remove your ring and place into a small cup or bowl filled with warm, soapy water. Leave the ring to soak for 10 minutes, then, using a soft toothbrush, gently brush the setting, taking care not to scratch or scrub the metal setting or band too much. For best results, use a soft cloth to dry and shine the ring as this will help to reduce the materials being scratched. With a lot of ruby rings being antique or vintage ruby rings, this itself hints at the durability of the ruby. Art Deco ruby rings are also likely to contain diamonds, so taking proper care of your ruby rings is vital when it comes to prolonging their life and ensuring that they are kept at their best.
Rubies are amongst one of the most popular gemstones, but the popularity of the ruby means that there are also a lot of imitations on the market. Real rubies can be distinguished by their deep, red colour and distinctive shine, whereas fake rubies tend to be a lot clearer in terms of colour, as they are often made of glass. When buying special jewellery pieces, such as antique and vintage ruby rings, making sure that the ruby which you are buying is real is of the utmost importance. There are some common differences between real and imitation rubies which can include the hardness of the gem, as substitutes are often made using softer materials and can scratch much easier and will leave a colour trail. Whether you are buying an exquisite antique ruby ring or an opulent diamond ruby ring, you can rest assured that our jewellery has been crafted with the highest-quality rubies.
Rubies are one of the most popular stones for jewellery with pricing fluctuating dramatically depending on a range of different factors including cut, colour clarity and carat. The highest quality rubies can reach over £1,000,000 per carat. There is a range of other factors that influence the price of ruby jewellery, including the age and period that they were created, as this plays a big part in pricing also. Antique and vintage ruby rings are older, meaning they have more history.