Modern Jewelry
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 Modern Jewelry
Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Jewelry
Late 20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Citrine, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Israeli Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Jewelry
1990s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Chrysophrase, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Diamond
2010s European Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Kunzite, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century European Modern Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold Plate, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Stainless Steel, Rose Gold, Gold Plate
1990s Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1960s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Asian Modern Jewelry
Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
20th Century French Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Peridot, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Danish Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s French Modern Jewelry
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry
Garnet, Quartz, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s African Modern Jewelry
Indicolite, Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Tsavorite, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Kunzite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1950s Spanish Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Platinum
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Jade, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century German Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Jewelry
Amethyst