The Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby 90 and Designer Sapphire 85 sit in the upper Designer sewing-and-embroidery range. Both are large, computerized combo machines for sewists who want a wide workspace, a big design library, and mySewnet connectivity. The Ruby 90 is the step-up model with more stitches, a larger screen, more sewing space, and a few embroidery extras. Official details are on husqvarnaviking.com.
Ruby 90 vs Sapphire 85 at a glance
These two machines share the same overall design language and many core sewing/embroidery tools. If you are choosing between them, focus on the differences below rather than the long shared feature list. For a full side-by-side grid, jump to the comparison table.
Where they differ
Both machines are capable. The Ruby 90 costs more because it adds workspace, screen size, stitch count, and a few embroidery conveniences that matter if you sew large projects or embroider often.
Built-in stitches
The Designer Ruby 90 includes 817 stitches. The Designer Sapphire 85 includes 680. Both can sew stitches up to 54 mm (about 2.1 in) wide. Extra stitches help if you use decorative work a lot. If you mainly sew utility seams and a short list of favorites, the Sapphire 85 still has plenty.
Extended dual stitch plate
Both use an extended dual stitch plate. On the Ruby 90 there is about 65 mm (2.6 in) of support on each side of the needle. On the Sapphire 85 it is about 40 mm (1.6 in). That extra plate support on the Ruby helps with wider decorative stitches and keeps fabric steadier beside the needle.
Ribbon embroidery attachment
The Ruby 90 supports an integrated ribbon embroidery attachment (with a dedicated foot). The Sapphire 85 does not. If you want to stitch ribbon directly into embroidery without a separate workaround, that is a real Ruby-only reason to step up. If ribbon embroidery is not on your list, you can skip paying for it.
Embroidery designs included
Built-in embroidery designs are close: about 651 on the Ruby 90 and 629 on the Sapphire 85. The difference is small. Most buyers will still expand the library through mySewnet or purchased designs, so this alone rarely decides the purchase.
Included hoops
The Ruby 90 includes the Imperial hoop at 360 x 260 mm (14¼ x 10¼ in). The Sapphire 85 includes the Royal hoop at 360 x 200 mm (14¼ x 8 in). Same length, different height. Larger hoop height on the Ruby means fewer re-hoopings on taller designs. The Sapphire’s Royal hoop still covers a lot of garment and home embroidery.
Touchscreen
The Ruby 90 has a 10.1 in full-color touchscreen (1280 x 800, wide viewing angle). The Sapphire 85 has an 8 in full-color touchscreen at the same 1280 x 800 resolution. Both are usable. The larger Ruby screen is nicer for editing designs and reading menus without squinting, especially during long embroidery sessions.
Sewing space to the right of the needle
Workspace is a major Ruby advantage: about 12 in (305 mm) to the right of the needle versus about 10 in (250 mm) on the Sapphire 85. Quilters and anyone moving bulky fabric will notice that extra room. For smaller garment work, the Sapphire space is still generous compared with many mid-range machines.
Needle threader
Both have a built-in needle threader. The Ruby 90’s automatic system is more push-button convenient. The Sapphire 85 uses a lever-style threader that still works, but takes a little more hand motion. Not a deal-breaker, but it adds up if you rethread often for embroidery color changes.
Languages, USB, and cover
Language support is nearly identical (14 on the Ruby 90, 13 on the Sapphire 85). The Ruby 90 has two USB ports for embroidery sticks and accessories. The Sapphire 85 supports embroidery stick/accessory connectivity with a more limited port setup. Covers differ too: Ruby 90 ships with a custom soft fabric cover; Sapphire 85 includes a hard cover, which some people prefer for storage protection.
Price
These are premium machines, and street prices vary by dealer, kit, and region. Soft US pricing often puts the Sapphire 85 roughly in the mid-to-high $6,000s and the Ruby 90 closer to the high $8,000s or around $9,000 when new. Check current dealer quotes. The Sapphire is the clearer value if you do not need the Ruby’s extra workspace and embroidery extras.
Verdict
Pick the Designer Ruby 90 if you want the larger throat space, bigger screen, Imperial hoop height, ribbon embroidery capability, and the higher stitch count. Pick the Designer Sapphire 85 if you want most of the same Designer-class sewing and embroidery experience for less money, and you can live with a slightly smaller workspace and screen. Both are serious machines. Match the step-up features to the projects you actually sew.
Comparison table
| FEATURES | DESIGNER RUBY 90 | DESIGNER SAPPHIRE 85 |
|---|---|---|
| mySewnet™ Subscription Compatible | Yes, mySewnet™ Library tab on-screen | Yes, mySewnet™ Library tab on-screen |
| On-Screen Memory Capabilities | mySewnet™ Cloud and USB Embroidery stick | mySewnet™ Cloud and USB Embroidery stick |
| mySewnet™ Cloud Storage | ● | ● |
| mySewnet™ Blog | ● | ● |
| Design Positioning – Match your embroideries perfectly every time | Full MySewMonitor™ App assistance | Full MySewMonitor™ App assistance |
| Transfer Designs with WiFi and mySewnet™ cloud sync tool | ● | ● |
| Updates via Internet | Through WiFi or USB Embroidery Stick | Through WiFi or USB Embroidery Stick |
| HUSQVARNA® VIKING® Apps | MySewMonitor QuickDesign™ JoyOS ADVISOR™ | MySewMonitor QuickDesign™ JoyOS ADVISOR™ |
| EXCLUSIVE SEWING ADVISOR™ | Yes, extended with JoyOS ADVISOR™ Feature | Yes, extended with JoyOS ADVISOR™ Feature |
| EMBROIDERY ADVISOR™ | Yes, extended with JoyOS ADVISOR™ Feature | Yes, extended with JoyOS ADVISOR™ Feature |
| Quick Help System Directly on Screen | Quick Help, Index Help | Quick Help, Index Help |
| On-Screen Accessory Guide | ● | ● |
| Dual Feed Technology | Interchangeable Dual Feed Included | Interchangeable Dual Feed Included |
| Extended Dual Stitch Plate | Guidelines up to 65mm on both sides of the needle | Guidelines up to 40mm on both sides of the needle |
| Adjustable Laser Sewing Guidance | - | - |
| Exclusive Stitch Techniques | 5 | 5 |
| Built-In Stitches | 817 | 680 |
| Programmable Sewing Fonts | 5 Can also be embroidered | 5 Can also be embroidered |
| deLuxe™ Stitch System | ● | ● |
| Electronic Self-Adjusting Thread Tension | Plus deLuxe™ Stitch System | Plus deLuxe™ Stitch System |
| Exclusive Sensor System | ● + Feed teeth drop with extra lift | ● + Feed teeth drop with extra lift |
| Automatic Feed Teeth Drop | Sewing and Embroidery | Sewing and Embroidery |
| Side-Motion Sewing | ● | ● |
| Free-Motion Sewing | 3 Modes: Free-Motion Ruler Foot, Free Motion Floating and Free-Motion Spring Action | 3 Modes: Free-Motion Ruler Foot, Free Motion Floating and Free-Motion Spring Action |
| Stitch Positioning | ● | ● |
| Needle Positions | 29 | 29 |
| PBB (Perfectly Balanced Buttonholes) with Sensor One-Step Buttonhole Foot | 16 Buttonholes + 3 Eyelets + Sew on Button | 15 Buttonholes + 2 Eyelets + Sew on Button |
| Straight Stitch Plate with Sensor | ● | ● |
| Light Indicates Needle Stop Up/Down | ● | ● |
| Stop Function | ● | ● |
| Fix Tie-Off Function | ● | ● |
| Stitch Pattern Re-Start | ● | ● |
| Speed Control | 5 Sewing Speeds | 5 Sewing Speeds |
| Taper Stitch Select Angles – Choose from 18 different angles | ● | ● |
| Directional Sewing – 4-way and 8-way | ● | ● |
| My Stitches Menu | 100 MB memory available using WiFi/a USB stick | 100 MB memory available using WiFi/a USB stick |
| Stitches Displayed On Screen | ● | ● |
| Stitches Displayed Actual Size | ● | ● |
| Starting Point of Stitch Indicated On Screen | ● | ● |
| Twin Needle Setting | ● | ● |
| Twin Needle Life View Dis played On Screen | ● | ● |
| Stitch Width Safety | ● | ● |
| Adjust Stitch; length, width, mirror image side-to-side and end-to-end | ● | ● |
| Ribbon Embroidery Attachment Capability | ● | - |
| Add Grid to Screen for Placement | ● | ● |
| Check Size and Placement before Embroidering | ● | ● |
| Designs Included | 651 built-in designs | 629 built-in designs |
| Design Shaping | ● | ● |
| Design Appliqué - Choose from shapes or alphabet and create appliqués on the screen | ● | ● |
| Possibility to Embroider Buttonholes in the Hoop | ● | ● |
| FEATURES | ||
| Embroider Decorative Stitches in the Hoop | ● | ● |
| Baste in Hoop | 2 options | 2 options |
| Selective/Automatic Thread Cutter with Automatic Jump Stitch Trim | ● | ● |
| Design-Select – Select one or more embroideries for editing | ● | ● |
| Change Design Stitch Out Order | ● | ● |
| Load and View Multi-format Designs | ● | ● |
| Resize Design with Stitch Recalculation | ● | ● |
| Scale Design | ● | ● |
| Rotate Designs | One degree increments | One degree increments |
| Color Edit | Change design colors, change background color, select monochrome | Change design colors, change background color, select monochrome |
| Grouping of Designs – Create a group of selected designs on screen for editing | ● | ● |
| Undo/Redo when Creating Design Combinations | ● | ● |
| Color Block Sort – Eliminate color changes with a touch | ● | ● |
| Color Block Merge – Eliminate color stops in large or combined designs | ● | ● |
| Combine embroidery designs on screen | ● | ● |
| Zoom and Pan | ● | ● |
| Cursor Mark On-Screen While Embroidering | ● | ● |
| Embroidery Speed | 1000spm | 1000spm |
| My Hoops – Select hoops you own | ● | ● |
| Largest Hoop Size Available | 360x350mm (14¼”x13¾”) | 360x350mm (14¼”x13¾”) |
| DESIGNER™ Imperial Hoop 360x260mm (14¼”x10¼”) Included | ● | - |
| DESIGNER™ Royal Hoop 360x200mm (14¼”x8”) Included | - | ● |
| DESIGNER™ Crown Hoop 260x200mm (10¼”x8”) Included | ● | ● |
| DESIGNER™ Jewel Hoop 240x150mm (93/5”x6”) Included | - | - |
| DESIGNER™ Splendid Square Hoop 120x120mm (4¾”x4¾”) Included | ● | ● |
| DESIGNER™ Majestic Hoop 360x350mm (14¼”x13¾”) Enabled | Optional | Optional |
| Tapering in Embroidery Mode | ● | ● |
| Multi-Size Embroidery Fonts | 8 | 8 |
| HUSQVARNA® VIKING® USB Embroidery Stick | mySewnet™ Services | mySewnet™ Services |
| Stitch Width | 7mm | 7mm |
| Automatic Bobbin Thread Pick-up | ● | ● |
| Go To Exact Embroidery Stitch Number | ● | ● |
| FEATURES | ||
| Embroidery Time Countdown by Color | ● | ● |
| Step Through Embroidery by Color and Stitch-by-Stitch | ● | ● |
| Select Designs from Thumbnail Pictures | ● | ● |
| Free QuickFont and Embroidery Software to Download | ● | ● |
| Electronic Piercing Power | 150 N | 150 N |
| Display Type | Large 10.1” (217x136mm) Full Color Capacitive Touch Screen with 180° viewing angle & high resolution (1280x800) | 8” (177x99mm) Full Color Capacitive Touch Screen, high resolution (1024x600) |
| Touch and Hold for Easy Handling of Designs, Files and More | ● | ● |
| Screen Saver with Start Up Screen | ● | ● |
| Lock Screen Option | ● | ● |
| Sewing Surface to the Right of the Needle | 310mm (over 12”) | 250mm (almost 10”) |
| “Snap On” Presser Feet | ● | ● |
| Sew and Embroider With or Without Foot Control | ● | ● |
| Multi-Function Foot Control Capability | ● | ● |
| Instant and Permanent Reverse | ● | ● |
| Lighted Thread Area | ● | |
| Light System | Market leading LED light, with adjustable intensity | LED technology with adjustable intensity |
| Needle Threader | Automatic | Manual |
| Multiple Languages | 14 | 13 |
| Choose On-Screen Color Scheme | ● | ● |
| Smart Save | ● | ● |
| Separate Motor to Wind Bobbin While Sewing or Embroidering | ● | ● |
| USB Connectivity | 2 USB Ports for Embroidery Sticks and optional accessories | Embroidery Stick and optional accessories |
| Designed & Engineered in Sweden | ● | ● |
| Sew with Embroidery Unit Attached | ● | ● |
| Top and Bobbin Thread Sensor | ● | ● |
| Jam-Proof Rotary Hook | ● | ● |
| Permanently Lubricated | ● | ● |
| Slide-On Accessory Tray | Double Sided | Double Sided |
| Machine Storage Included | Custom Fabric Soft Cover | Hard Cover |
| Embroidery Unit Soft Bag | Included | Included |