Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Rooted in centuries of history of adornment dating back to the ancient world, modern jewelry reimagines traditional techniques, forms and materials for expressive new pieces. As opposed to contemporary jewelry, which responds to the moment in which it was created, modern jewelry often describes designs from the 20th to 21st centuries that reflect movements and trends in visual culture.
Modern jewelry emerged from the 19th-century shift away from jewelry indicating rank or social status. The Industrial Revolution allowed machine-made jewelry using electric gold plating, metal alloys and imitation stones, making beautiful jewelry widely accessible. Although mass production deemphasized the materials of the jewelry, the vision of the designer remained important, something that would be furthered in the 1960s with what’s known as the “critique of preciousness.”
A design fair called the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes” brought global attention to the Art Deco style in 1925 and gathered a mix of jewelry artists alongside master jewelers like Van Cleef & Arpels, Mauboussin and Boucheron. Art Deco designs from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels unconventionally mixed gemstones like placing rock crystals next to diamonds while borrowing motifs from eclectic sources including Asian lacquer and Persian carpets. Among Cartier’s foremost design preoccupations at the time were high-contrast color combinations and crisp, geometric forms and patterns. In the early 20th century, modernist jewelers like Margaret De Patta and artists such as Alexander Calder — who is better known for his kinetic sculptures than his provocative jewelry — explored sculptural metalwork in which geometric shapes and lines were preferred over elaborate ornamentation.
Many of the innovations in modern jewelry were propelled by women designers such as Wendy Ramshaw, who used paper to craft her accessories in the 1960s. During the 1970s, Elsa Peretti created day-to-night pieces for Tiffany & Co. while designers like Lea Stein experimented with layering plastic, a material that had been employed in jewelry since the mid-19th century and had expanded into Bakelite, acrylics and other unique materials.
Find a collection of modern watches, bracelets, engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Platinum
Early 19th Century North American Antique Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Thai Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Silver
1980s Finnish Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Silver
2010s Italian Modern More Jewelry and Watches
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Mid-20th Century German Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Gold, 9k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
1960s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Silver, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s British Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Sterling Silver
1950s Unknown Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, Silver, Enamel
1980s Italian Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Pearl, Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Gold
Late 20th Century German Modern More Jewelry and Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Brass
1980s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond
Early 2000s Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Swiss Modern More Jewelry and Watches
18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Swedish Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Steel, Stainless Steel
Early 2000s French Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Crystal
20th Century Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Crystal, 24k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
1980s Italian Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Jewelry and Watches
White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Jewelry and Watches
White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s European Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Jewelry and Watches
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
1980s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Late 20th Century Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Zircon, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
20th Century Ethiopian Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Opal
1990s American Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Jewelry and Watches
1950s Unknown Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond
1980s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry and Watches
2010s Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold