Contemporary Bangles
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Bangles
Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Contemporary Bangles
Enamel, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century American Antique Contemporary Bangles
Gold-filled
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Bangles
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold...
1950s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Bangles
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Vintage Contemporary Bangles
Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Czech Antique Contemporary Bangles
Garnet, Gold-filled
Mid-20th Century Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Bangles
Base Metal
1950s Vintage Contemporary Bangles
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold
1990s Hong Kong Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Contemporary Bangles
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Bangles
Agate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Bangles
Agate, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver