K. Brunini Jewels On Sale
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Objets d'Art an...
Black Pearl, Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Bangles
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Bangles
Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
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Vintage 1940s American Arts and Crafts Brooches
Crystal, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Antique Books
20th Century American Antique Books
2010s Greek Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Ruby, Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Jade, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Charm Bracelets
Vintage 1970s European Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold
Vintage 1980s British Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century Contemporary Charm Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Charm Bracelets
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Decorative Objects
Vintage 1960s European Retro Signet Rings
18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Hoop Earrings
24k Gold
Vintage 1950s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.