Syna Bee
2010s Thai Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Brown Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold
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2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 10k Gold
Vintage 1980s Drop Earrings
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1900s American Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches
Enamel, Silver
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Boxes and Cases
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage 1910s French Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Diamond, Steel, Enamel, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Late 18th Century French Georgian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl
Recent Sales
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Signet Rings
Brown Diamond, 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.