Ruby Buttons. Rubies are one of the most desirable gemstones and when paired with gold make exquisite buttons and cufflinks. Ruby buttons are quite rare and it they can be confused with red garnets and spinels as well as red ruby glass. One difference is that rubies tend to have different colors when viewed at different angles whereas spinels are singularly refractive.
Some high quality buttons have been made in the form of animal heads and often their eyes are inset with rubies.
Below are some examples and price guides of antique and vintage ruby buttons including some gold owl buttons with ruby eyes and a dress set.
Attributed to Paul Robin: A set of four owl buttons, circa 1880 Each modelled as an owl’s head with finely engraved detail and circular-cut ruby eyes, French marks
Sold for £3,400 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022
A PLATINUM, GOLD, RUBY AND DIAMOND DRESS SET
Comprising a pair of cufflinks, four shirt studs/buttons, and two collar studs, set with round diamonds weighing approximately 2.00 carats and bezel-set rubies weighing approximately 3.50 carats, with original, fitted Collingwood Ltd. box
Sold for US$3,500 at Bonham’s in 2022
Antonini Gioielli 18K Gold Ruby Cufflink Set
2 Cufflinks; 3 buttons Stamped 750 Italy *1272MI Ruby and Onyx
Sold for US$900 at Hunt and Peck Estate Services, Inc. in 2021
Set of seven Fox Hunting Buttons in 14K yellow gold, for fox hunting jacket, each piece has full fox head and ruby eyes, 3/4″ diameter. 23.3 dwt.
Sold for US$1,300 at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in 2019
