Rectangle Color Changing Necklace

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.

With their adaptable nature, antique and vintage necklace enhancers open up endless possibilities for style.

An enhancer refers to a broad category of adornments that includes amulets, decorative pendants and charms for your bracelet or necklace. It’s a must-have accessory for any jewelry lover and can add some dazzle to an old favorite or reimagine a new piece.

From a mechanical standpoint, all necklace enhancers share one core characteristic: how they attach to a necklace. Unlike bail pendants, which are designed to slide onto unfastened necklaces and must therefore be sized appropriately to fit, enhancers feature quick-release clasps or latches that allow them to be affixed and removed from virtually any necklace.

A tasteful necklace enhancer, along with the right chain, choker, cord or strand of pearls, can transform any ordinary necklace into a stunning conversation piece.

Browse 1stDibs for a wide range of necklace enhancers, such as gold, silver and gem-encrusted designs featuring sapphires or diamonds.