Mid Century Modern Drop Earrings
Mid-20th Century Modernist Drop Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Gold
Mid-20th Century Modernist Drop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Modernist Drop Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Modernist Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Etruscan Revival Drop Earrings
14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Etruscan Revival Drop Earrings
14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Etruscan Revival Drop Earrings
14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Drop Earrings
Coral, 22k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s American Modern Drop Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Aesthetic Movement Drop Earrings
Diamond
Mid-20th Century American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Mid-20th Century Australian Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Drop Earrings
Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Opal, Zircon, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century European Retro Drop Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modernist Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Dangle Earrings
Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Dangle Earrings
Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Indian Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Dangle Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modern Dangle Earrings
Mid-20th Century French Modern Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Peridot, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Quartz, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, White ...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Whi...
1990s American Chandelier Earrings
Gilt Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century French Modern Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century American Romantic Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1950s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling...
Vintage 1950s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1970s French Modern Dangle Earrings
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
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Mid Century Modern Drop Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Mid Century Modern Drop Earrings?
A Close Look at modern Jewelry
Rooted in centuries of history of adornment dating back to the ancient world, modern jewelry reimagines traditional techniques, forms and materials for expressive new pieces. As opposed to contemporary jewelry, which responds to the moment in which it was created, modern jewelry often describes designs from the 20th to 21st centuries that reflect movements and trends in visual culture.
Modern jewelry emerged from the 19th-century shift away from jewelry indicating rank or social status. The Industrial Revolution allowed machine-made jewelry using electric gold plating, metal alloys and imitation stones, making beautiful jewelry widely accessible. Although mass production deemphasized the materials of the jewelry, the vision of the designer remained important, something that would be furthered in the 1960s with what’s known as the “critique of preciousness.”
A design fair called the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes” brought global attention to the Art Deco style in 1925 and gathered a mix of jewelry artists alongside master jewelers like Van Cleef & Arpels, Mauboussin and Boucheron. Art Deco designs from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels unconventionally mixed gemstones like placing rock crystals next to diamonds while borrowing motifs from eclectic sources including Asian lacquer and Persian carpets. Among Cartier’s foremost design preoccupations at the time were high-contrast color combinations and crisp, geometric forms and patterns. In the early 20th century, modernist jewelers like Margaret De Patta and artists such as Alexander Calder — who is better known for his kinetic sculptures than his provocative jewelry — explored sculptural metalwork in which geometric shapes and lines were preferred over elaborate ornamentation.
Many of the innovations in modern jewelry were propelled by women designers such as Wendy Ramshaw, who used paper to craft her accessories in the 1960s. During the 1970s, Elsa Peretti created day-to-night pieces for Tiffany & Co. while designers like Lea Stein experimented with layering plastic, a material that had been employed in jewelry since the mid-19th century and had expanded into Bakelite, acrylics and other unique materials.
Find a collection of modern watches, bracelets, engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right drop-earrings for You
Earrings are a timeless accessory. Women have been wearing studs and hoops in civilizations as far back as Ancient Egypt. Diamond drop earrings, pearl versions and other antique drop earrings have a long history as well.
While hoops will always be beautiful, drop earrings hold their own as dazzling accessories, and jewelry designers have explored different variations on this style of earring over time.
Although the term is often misapplied, true drop earrings are characterized by a long lean line ending in a pear-shaped stone that drops just below the earlobe. These accessories were popular in the Art Deco era, which encompassed the 1920s and ’30s and ushered in a very distinct look in jewelry design.
There were many influences on Art Deco jewelry; among them, the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. Today, the popularity of long Art Deco drop earrings can be attributed to the influence of Coco Chanel. These earrings are frequently characterized by simple shapes, clean lines and an integration of colorful stones such as blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies to accent the pieces’ diamonds. Indeed, during the 20th century, as technology for diamond cutting improved, diamond drop earrings and other diamond jewelry came into wide popularity. Formal examples of diamond drop earrings pair perfectly with a cocktail dress or fancy pantsuit, while gem-set and gold drop earrings make great daytime accessories.
While there are at least several types of earrings you could be wearing right now, drop earrings work well for anyone who favors a minimalist look. Whatever the occasion, find a wide range of antique, diamond and pearl drop earrings on 1stDibs.