Mont Blanc Women
2010s Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches
Stainless Steel
People Also Browsed
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Wrist Watches
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
1990s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1940s Swiss Retro Bracelets
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Wrist Watches
Diamond, Steel, Titanium
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Steel, Stainless Steel
20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
Mid-20th Century American Wrist Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Wrist Watches
Stainless Steel, Steel
Early 2000s Japanese Beaded Bracelets
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Steel, Stainless Steel
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.