Olive Branch Bracelet

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.

When you’re sifting through your classic gold bracelets, diamond bracelets or other elegant links to wear for an evening out, remember that antique and vintage chain bracelets complete and complement any style.

Chain bracelets typically have connected links of metal, often gold or silver, and can be minimally simple or adorned with charms. Examples of chain bracelets date back to Ancient Rome.

Your favorite chain bracelet, like a lot of vintage and antique bracelets, can accent your ensemble and serve as a colorful expression of your personal fashion sense, whether you’re pairing your best tennis bracelet with a stylish Chanel suit or stacking a handful of bangles to wear with your trusty blue jeans.

And styling bracelets is a cinch: Don’t overwhelm a slim wrist with a chunky link chain bracelet, for example. An understated, single-strand leather piece will work better in that instance, while a charm bracelet — one passed down as an heirloom, perhaps — could add a focal point without too much bulkiness.

Antique chain bracelets add unique charm to ensembles and are sure to be cherished keepsakes in any jewelry box. Art Deco chain bracelets, which are frequently embellished with colorful gemstones, are works of art that spark conversations and welcome compliments. The elegance of the 1920s and ’30s is at home with evening wear as well as a classic suit or sheath dress.

Eye-catching bracelets made around the world can adorn wrists and become treasured gifts. Browse gold and jeweled antique chain bracelets on 1stDibs.