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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
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Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Enamel, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s French Artisan Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Moonstone, Topaz, Citrine, Amber, Gold, Gilt Metal, Brass, Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Danish Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Dome Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold
Vintage 1960s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Black Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Peridot, White Gold
2010s French Artisan Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold...
Vintage 1980s French Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Vintage 1970s American Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
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2010s French Contemporary Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel, White 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.