Baseball Rings
Early 2000s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
20th Century American Classical Greek Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Wedding Rings
18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
20th Century Engagement Rings
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Fashion Books
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s British Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
18k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Vintage 1980s American More Rings
Diamond, 10k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Black Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, 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.