Berca Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cufflinks
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Opal, 18k Gold, Gold, Brass
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Opal, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Polish Contemporary Brooches
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Polish Contemporary Brooches
Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Rubelite, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Modern Dome Rings
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Cocktail Rings
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s English Modern Stud Earrings
Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Cufflinks
Gold-filled
2010s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Jade, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Bracelets
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Turquoise, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cufflinks
Ruby, Turquoise, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Labradorite, 18k Gold, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cufflinks
Tiger's Eye, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cufflinks
Turquoise, Malachite, 18k Gold
A Close Look at contemporary Jewelry
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.