Picasso Rolex
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Resin, Magazine Paper, Photographic Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints
Canvas
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Color Photography
Archival Ink, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Giclée
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Portrait Prints
Cotton Canvas
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
2010s Mexican Brutalist Contemporary Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Abstract Prints
Offset, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Jars
Ceramic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Sculptures
Acrylic Polymer, Glitter
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art More Prints
Screen, Paper, Glitter, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Paintings
Acrylic, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Faux Leather, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Vases
Gold
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Prints
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
1930s Modern Landscape Prints
Woodcut
Recent Sales
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches
Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Gold, 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.