Hokusai Octopus
2010s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Black Diamond, Silver
2010s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Black Diamond, Silver
2010s Art Nouveau Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Antique 18th Century Japanese Edo Decorative Art
Metal, Iron
People Also Browsed
2010s Thai Contemporary Stud Earrings
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Egyptian Revival Dangle Earrings
Citrine, Coral, Gold Plate
Antique 19th Century Turkish Islamic Textiles
Metallic Thread
1890s French School Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Mexican Modern Modern Bracelets
Silver, Sterling Silver, Copper, Mixed Metal
20th Century Neoclassical Arms, Armor and Weapons
Steel
Antique Early 1900s American Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s Chinese Chinese Export Metalwork
Copper, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Lacquer
Gold, Silver, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Other Collectible Jewelry
Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer
Wood
Vintage 1940s Mexican Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Silver, Brass
Vintage 1970s Beaded Necklaces
Coral
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic, Paint, Canvas
Antique 19th Century Unknown Beaded Bracelets
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Link Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
2010s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Black Diamond, Silver
2010s Contemporary Bangles
Ruby, Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Bangles
Black Diamond, Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Ruby, Silver
2010s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Black Diamond, Silver
2010s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Black Diamond, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Prints
Woodcut
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.