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.
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Steel, Rose Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Steel
1950s American Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Jade, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Rose Gold, Steel
1950s Italian Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Swiss Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Moonstone, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Coral, 14k Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
1950s American Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1950s American Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Swedish Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1950s Burmese Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire