Twig Spoons
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Objets d'Art an...
Black Pearl, Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Objets d'Art an...
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Barware
Sterling Silver
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Vintage 1980s Multi-Strand Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Chain Bracelets
Agate, Amethyst, Chalcedony, Tiger's Eye, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Charm Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Dinnerware and Flatware Sets
Sterling Silver
1990s Charm Bracelets
Antique 1890s American Flatware and Serving Pieces
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s European Retro Signet Rings
18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Boxes and Cases
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century British Charm Bracelets
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Objets d'Art an...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Choker Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s European Enamel Frames and Objects
Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Objets d'Art an...
Black Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Objets d'Art an...
Black Pearl, Sterling Silver
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.