Syna Aquamarine
2010s American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Rubelite, Aquamarine, Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Aquamarine, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Aquamarine, Garnet, Rhodolite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Aquamarine, Peridot, Rubelite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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21st Century and Contemporary British More Jewelry
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Stud Earrings
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Solitaire Rings
Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Aquamarine, 22k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Platinum
1990s American Stud Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Opal, Emerald, Onyx
21st Century and Contemporary Dome Rings
Garnet, Rhodolite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
2010s American Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Aquamarine, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k Go...
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Aquamarine, Citrine, Multi-gemstone, Diamond, Peridot, Brown Diamond, Qu...
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.