Cupcake Tennis Necklace

Beauvince Jewelry creates pieces to match what the brand identifies as the “dreams, desires and strengths” of an individual’s unique sense of beauty — the company’s name, a combination of “beauty” and “vincible” is generally interpreted as “with beauty one conquers.” Strength and beauty are definitely qualities that resonate in the contemporary jewelry designs created by the New York City-based boutique and atelier.

Beauvince Jewelry was founded by Komal Bajaj Sankar, a second-generation jeweler who grew up watching her parents operate their own jewelry company, Monique Creations, in Manhattan. Bajaj Sankar originally pursued a career in marketing, but in 2006, she earned her Diamonds Graduate diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), graduated from the GIA’s Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP) Program in 2009 and earned an MBA from the Columbia Business School in 2015. Beauvince was established in 2018.

Beauvince’s artisans use conflict-free sourced colorless and rare colored diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies in their exquisite range of custom fine jewelry. Since its inception, Beauvince’s enticing collections have attracted the attention of discerning jewelry buyers all over the world. 

Introduced in 2019, the Rosalie collection draws on natural-world forms as often as it does the architecture of the Middle Ages. It celebrates strong women and emphasizes the warmth and sensuality of rose gold in the house’s Cassandra, Flora and Lolita cocktail rings as well as a range of drop earrings called the Whirls of Love, Autumn Chandelier, Enya and Fall Diamond. Beauvince Jewelry is also renowned for their diamond engagement rings — consultations are available at the company’s Diamond District atelier — as well as elegant pendant necklaces and a selection of delicate bracelets for day or evening wear.

Find Beauvince Jewelry necklaces, earrings and rings on 1stDibs.

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.

Vintage chain necklaces can make a statement on their own. What’s better than eye-catching chains of yellow gold or subtle silver to accessorize with everything from a designer evening dress to a comfortable sweatshirt?

Personal ornament in general has been around for eons. Ancient Egyptians designed jewelry and wore necklaces, rings and other accessories, and the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber in 1922 had the greatest impact on Art Deco jewelry. When chain necklaces first took on some visibility in ancient civilizations, these items weren’t exactly democratic.

Chain necklaces were accessories that were relegated strictly to royal families and the upper class. In ancient times, pendant necklaces conferred prestige, for example. Wealthy Greeks and Romans opted for gold and silver necklaces that featured ornate pendants and semiprecious stones. By the Renaissance period, the pendant had replaced the brooch as the most worn type of jewelry. Pendant necklaces were commonplace, or pendants were simply strung on long gold chains.

Thankfully, jewelry became more accessible over time. And trends have come and gone, but the popularity of chain necklaces today owes in part to hip-hop culture. Big, chunky gold chains and diamond necklaces were the order of the day in publicity shoots and on album covers for rappers in the early 1980s onward, and a gold chain is still a mainstay in the ever-evolving and broadening hip-hop culture as we know it.

In our modern era, a number of chain-link necklaces are trending, worn alone or layered. The stylish links that have passed the test of time include oval links, paper-clip chains and more. The best way to discover your perfect fit is to zero in on a particular name and type of link.

While it was once key to accessorizing for a formal event, a vintage chain necklace now adds a fresh dynamic to any outfit at any time of day. Find yours on 1stDibs.