Baroque Pearl Bunny
Early 2000s Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century American Artist Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Late 20th Century French Artist Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Multi-gemstone, Beryl, White Diamond, Diamond, Morganite, 18k Gold, Rose...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches
White Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Sapphire, Carnelian, Black Diamond, 18k Gold,...
Early 2000s German Modern Brooches
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, Yellow Gold, Enamel, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Coral, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century French Artist Link Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl
1990s American Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
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.
Finding the Right brooches for You
Antique and vintage brooches, which are decorative jewels traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones.
Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.