Christophe Graber
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
2010s Swiss Contemporary Signet Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
People Also Browsed
2010s Fashion Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Post-War Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
2010s American Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Band Rings
Lapis Lazuli, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Signet Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s North American Artisan Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, South Sea Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Jade, Morganite, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Retro Signet Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1770s Portuguese Georgian Dangle Earrings
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Silver
Vintage 1950s British Brooches
Ruby, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold, 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.
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