Giant Layered Necklace
2010s Israeli Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
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21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1920s Post-Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Venice Landscape Italian Oil on Canvas Painting in Gilt Wood Frame, Belle Epoque, Early 20th Century
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pink Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Street Art Figurative Prints
Screen, Watercolor, Paper
Late 19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Pink Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
1890s Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paper, Oil
Early 2000s Academic Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Contemporary Nude Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper, Giclée
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Opal, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 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.
Finding the Right necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage necklaces designed by David Webb — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.