Dalben Little Oval

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.

Ear piercing is very popular everywhere in today’s world. As a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a dependable pair of earrings. Modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings — you can’t go wrong with this must-have accessory. For hundreds of years, lever-back earrings have been a part of this category of alluring jewelry.

The ancient Greeks fashioned earrings from gold that had a similar snapping mechanism to modern-day lever-back earrings. Lever-back earrings, as we know them, have come in and out of fashion over the decades, such as in the Georgian era. The lever back used on earrings in Europe eventually made its way across the Atlantic to jewelry design in the United States.

These accessories are typically thought of as the most reliable and safest way to wear earrings, so they are perfect for larger pieces with multiple stones. Famous jewelers such as Natkina and Tiffany & Co. have crafted gorgeous lever-back earrings for their collections over the years.

Vintage lever-back earrings range in style and appearance and are a charming addition to any wardrobe. Who doesn’t love the finishing touch that earrings can provide for one’s ensemble? A good pair of lever-back earrings can be more eye-catching than a bracelet: Even the most beautiful bangle can be overlooked on the wrist, while earrings, worn on either side of your face, are almost guaranteed to be noticed.

Find a variety of contemporary and antique lever-back earrings designed in styles to match any jewelry collection on 1stDibs.