Wesley Kloss Fine Jewelry On Sale
2010s American Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Hoop Earrings
14k Gold
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Late 20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Cufflinks
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century Contemporary Link Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s French Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Link Bracelets
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century French Modern Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, White Gold
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Tennis Bracelets
Antique Late 19th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Vintage 1950s American Baroque Brooches
Silver Plate
Vintage 1930s German More Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century British Modernist Modern Bracelets
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage 1950s American Beaded Bracelets
18k Gold
1990s Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Retro Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.