Ruby Jewellery

Discover ruby jewellery from Garrard. Enter a world of exceptional artistry and precious gemstone expertise, where three centuries of British luxury heritage meet innovative design.

Ruby high jewellery by Garrard celebrates the allure of this fiery red gemstone through designs that exude confidence, passion and strength. As one of the world’s most revered jewellers for coloured gemstones, our collection features Mozambique rubies and Pigeon Blood rubies, distinguished by their vivid hue and extraordinary depth of colour.

Explore ruby rings, engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and ruby jewellery sets.

The natural ruby collection housed within our Jewelled Vault and 1735 Collection is remarkable, defined by richness of tone, impeccable quality and brilliant clarity.
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Ruby Jewellery FAQs

What qualities define a fine ruby?

Rubies are usually defined by their beautiful rich red hue. Rubies have a hardness and toughness that makes them an excellent choice for jewellery.
How has Garrard featured rubies in royal jewellery?

Garrard has an exceptionally deep connection to royal jewellery and rubies, stemming from a long and distinguished history as Crown Jeweller. During this period, Garrard was responsible for the creation, maintenance, and restoration of some of the most important pieces of royal jewellery in the world, and rubies featured prominently in many of the most celebrated commissions. The house has crafted ruby pieces for successive generations of the British royal family, and its work with these stones reflects the deep historical association between rubies and royal power, passion, and prestige. Garrard's royal ruby pieces are characterised by exceptional craftsmanship, the use of the finest Burmese rubies, and designs that balance regal grandeur with wearable elegance.

Among the most famous examples of Garrard's ruby work is the Burmese Ruby Tiara, which was made by Garrard in 1973 for Queen Elizabeth II. The tiara was crafted using 96 rubies that had been given to the Queen as a wedding gift by the people of Burma in 1947, designed in a floral pattern with the rubies set alongside diamonds. According to Burmese tradition, rubies offer protection against illness and evil, and the gifting of the stones carried deep cultural significance. The tiara became one of Queen Elizabeth II's most frequently worn and beloved pieces, appearing on numerous public occasions over the decades. This single commission alone stands as a testament to Garrard's mastery of working with rubies at the very highest level of royal and fine jewellery.

Another outstanding example is the Oriental Circlet Tiara, considered a rare tiara it is one of the most exotic and visually striking tiaras in the entire British royal collection. It was originally created in 1853 by Garrard, commissioned by Prince Albert as a gift for Queen Victoria, and was designed to reflect the fashionable Victorian fascination with the art and aesthetics of the East. The piece was originally set with large Australian opals and intricate diamond work, giving it an otherworldly, luminous quality quite unlike any other piece in the royal collection. The connection to rubies came when Queen Mary had the opals replaced with rubies in 1902. Queen Mary felt that rubies better suited the piece and enhanced its richness and grandeur, and the substitution transformed the circlet into the ruby and diamond marvel it is known as today. It was worn by Princess, Catherine of Wales, for the December 2025 State Banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of the German Chancellor. Discover more about the jewellery of the royal family here.
Why are rubies associated with love and celebration?

In ancient times, rubies were believed to improve health, wealth, and guarantee success in love. Red is the colour of intense emotions and associated with objects of power and desire. Early cultures treasured rubies, believing that rubies held the power of life.

Ruby is one of the most historically significant coloured stones. Rubies are mentioned four times in the Bible, in association with attributes like beauty and wisdom. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones.”

What influences the price of ruby jewellery?

Many factors can influence the price of ruby jewellery including the quality, cut and origin of the rubies, the design and crafting of the piece, the other materials, precious metal and gemstones or diamonds included.

Like all colour gemstones, rubies are graded on colour, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The most prized rubies are pigeon's blood red, an intense crimson with a very slight bluish undertone. The colour must be evenly distributed throughout the stone, with no visible zoning or patchiness, and the saturation should be deep and vibrant without appearing too dark or too light.

Rubies are almost always expected to contain some natural inclusions. Entirely flawless rubies are extraordinarily rare. The key is that inclusions should not significantly impact the stone's transparency or brilliance. Carat weight naturally affects value, with larger rubies being exceptionally rare and therefore disproportionately more valuable than smaller stones of the same quality.

The Burmese, Mozambican, and Sri Lankan rubies are particularly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs in the fine jewellery world.

Are rubies as durable as sapphires or diamonds?

There is very marginal difference between the two. Diamonds score 10 on the Mohs scale for hardness, while rubies are 9, making them the second hardest mineral alongside sapphires. This exceptional hardness means that rubies are extraordinarily resistant to everyday scratching and surface abrasion, making them an excellent choice for all types of jewellery, including rings and bracelets that are subject to regular wear. Their toughness also means they hold up well to the rigours of being set and re-set by jewellers over a lifetime.

Rubies are more scratch resistant than diamonds. In practical terms, both rubies and diamonds are considered outstanding choices for fine jewellery intended for everyday wear, and the difference in durability between the two is unlikely to be noticeable in normal use.
Why are rubies so popular in jewellery?

Rubies carry rich emotional resonance, striking visual appeal, and powerful symbolism. The birthstone of July, the fiery intensity of ruby symbolises desire, love, romance, passion, and vitality. They are considered one of the most appropriate stones for expressing deep affection.
Which wedding anniversary is celebrated with ruby jewellery?

Rubies are associated with the 40th wedding anniversary. They make for an appropriate anniversary gift for July weddings, birthdays, and for anyone who is drawn to the intensity of the fiery red hues. Discover more about anniversary gemstones here.

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