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.
2010s British Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s British Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, White Diamond, Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Bangles
Aquamarine, Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold
20th Century Danish Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Bangles
Aquamarine, Quartz, Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Rubelite, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Bangles
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Canadian Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Tourmaline, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Contemporary Bangles
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Indian Vintage Contemporary Bangles
Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Danish Contemporary Bangles
Chrysophrase, Sterling Silver, Silver
1990s Italian Contemporary Bangles
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Bangles
Black Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1960s Danish Vintage Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Rhodium, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
White Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Silver, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Quartz, Brass, Silver, Bronze