Sharon Meyer Couture 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Moonstone & Carved Jade Necklace
By Sharon Meyer
Located in Troy, MI
Sharon Meyer artistry is born from her passion for design, never-ending creativity and eye for the beauty of jewelry.
Jade, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sharon Meyer Couture 18 Karat Yellow Gold Aquamarine Slice and Diamond Necklace
By Sharon Meyer
Located in Troy, MI
Sharon Meyer artistry is born from her passion for design and never-ending creativity and eye for the beauty of jewelry.
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sharon Meyer Couture 18 Karat Yellow Gold Epic Mabe' Pearl White Sapphire Ring
By Sharon Meyer
Located in Troy, MI
Sharon Meyer artistry is born from her passion for design and never-ending creativity and eye for the beauty of jewelry.
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sharon Meyer Couture 18 Karat Yellow Gold Carved Pink Opal Necklace
By Sharon Meyer
Located in Troy, MI
Sharon Meyer artistry is born from her passion for design, never-ending creativity and eye for the beauty of jewelry.
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian, 23.17 Carat Old Cushion Shape Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Victorian drop earrings! 36 gradual old European diamonds set in gold & silver in a circular shape & filigree workmanship, with estimated total weight of 8 carats C...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Estate Cartier Diamond and Platinum Bow Pin, Circa 1940's-1950's.
By Cartier
Located in New Orleans, LA
Classic Estate 1940's-1950s platinum bow brooch signed by Cartier, containing approximately 7 carats total weight of round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds.
Diamond, Platinum
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace
Located in London, GB
A Victorian natural pearl and diamond necklace, the twelve graduated cluster motifs each centred with natural bouton pearls measuring from 5.6 mm to 9 mm, within a surround of old br...
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
By Fred Leighton
Located in New Orleans, LA
Enveloped in a sea of 60.26 carats of fancy vivid yellow diamonds is this tour de force of jewelry craftsmanship from the collaboration of jewelry legends Fred Leighton and Carvin Fr...
Yellow Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Massive Brutalist Aquamarine Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1970s, palladium, Switzerland. This stunning one-of-a-kind ring features a magnificent 48.60 carat cube of aquamarine in a sleek Swiss Modern frame. The highly dimensional, ...
Aquamarine, Palladium
Emilio Jewelry GIA Certified 5.00 Carat Flawless Fancy Pink Diamond
By Emilio!
Located in New York, NY
From Emilio Jewelry, a well known and respected wholesaler/dealer located in the Iconic Gem Tower/Gia Building in New York's Diamond District. The color of this diamond is much bette...
Pink Diamond
Pigeon's Blood Burmese Ruby and Diamond Necklace/Tiara, circa 1915
Located in London, GB
Pigeon's blood Burmese ruby and diamond necklace/tiara. Set to the centre with twenty six oval old cut natural unenhanced Pigeon's blood Burmese rubies in open back claw settings, ra...
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold, Platinum
77.20 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Riviera Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in silver over gold with 46 Old European cut Diamonds weighing a total of 77.20 carats; the center Diamond weighing 5.77 carats. 18 3/4 inches long
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Mario Buccellati Diamond & Ruby Butterfly Brooch Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
Mario Buccellati Diamond & Ruby Butterfly Brooch Pin A Rare and Collectible Masterpiece Presenting a stunning and highly collectible butterfly brooch designed by the legendary Mario ...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
$476,000Sale Price|20% Off
NEW SSEF* 4.542CT Pigeon Red Unheated Burma Mogok Ruby Diamond Ring in Platinum
Located in Warren, NJ
One of a kind! Rare Gorgeous Unheated Intense Vivid Pure Red Color Burmese Ruby Ring. Clean and Brilliant 4.542 CT. Ruby Ring in Platinum. The Ruby IS DIRECTLY FROM MOGOK, Myanmar ...
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Natural Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Necklace Five-Strand and Diamond French Clasp
Located in New York, NY
Natural Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Necklace Five Strand & Diamond French Clasp Natural Sleeping Beauty Turquoise which is very hard to find now. A rare Gem Necklace 5 strands average ...
Turquoise, Diamond, 18k Gold
Pair of Large Natural Saltwater Pearl Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
A highly important and collector's item - perfectly matched pair of large antique white natural, saltwater button pearls measuring fifteen to sixteen millimeter and weighing over twe...
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Fine Diamond and Cultured Pearl Necklace
Located in London, GB
A fine early Victorian diamond detachable centrepiece set with an old-cut diamond surrounded by eight diamond-set petals, all within an ornate openwork scroll design plaque suspendi...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Archaeological Revival Coral and Gold Suite
Located in London, GB
An archaeological revival coral and gold suite attributed to Luigi Casalta, the necklace consisted of a woven gold chain with fifteen drops, the central drop in the form of a horse-s...
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Graduated Opal Necklace, 554.00 Carats
Located in New Orleans, LA
Twenty-nine solid opal beads totaling an extraordinary 554.00 carats comprise this mesmerizing necklace. The graduated gems are an impressive size, measuring from 23.8mm to 13mm, wit...
Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
Jade Amber Amethyst Antiques Carved Jade Elements Long Necklace
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Very special long necklace with to dragon carved jade plaque, antiques Chinese murrine, amber, amethyst, jade, Citrine, carnelian. total length 110cm. All Giulia Colussi jewelry is n...
Amazonite, Amber, Amethyst, Jade, Natural Pearl, Gold Plate
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.