Mandarine Garnet Clip On Earrings
2010s German Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Garnet, Mandarin Garnet, Fire Opal, Opal, Other, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s German Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Garnet, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire, 18k Gold
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1990s American Link Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Tourmaline, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Modern Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Fashion Rings
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s German Baroque Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
2010s Italian Contemporary Solitaire Rings
Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Hoop Earrings
Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
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 clip-on-earrings for You
Crafted to match every color palette, mood or whim, a luxurious pair of vintage clip-on earrings, like any pair of earrings, goes a long way toward completing a look and contributing to the rich form of self-expression that is accessorizing with your favorite jewelry.
Everyone loves a glamorous pair of earrings, but not everyone wants their ears pierced. That’s where a dazzling pair of clip-ons comes in.
Wearing earrings goes back thousands of years, but ear piercing didn’t really become popular in the United States until the 1950s and ’60s. Over the years, jewelry designers have endeavored to create all kinds of clip-on earrings to provide jewelry lovers with a way to express themselves by wearing their favorite adornments without having to undergo the piercing process.
Whether it’s the extravagant diamond clip-on drop earrings or chandelier earrings that flappers donned during Art Deco’s heyday — short hair was in style during the era, so women favored big, bold earrings — or if subdued pearl earrings, platinum earrings (a particularly versatile choice) or a contemporary variety is your thing, clip-on earrings have been made in all kinds of styles over the years.
Clip-on earrings continue to be a comfortable alternative to the traditional iteration, and these accessories are as stylish and adaptable to both casual and formal wear as they’ve ever been.
Explore a vast range of vintage clip-on earrings on 1stDibs now, and find the perfect pair for any ensemble. Our collection includes striking clip-on earrings by David Webb, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and others.