Modern Chain Bracelets
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 Unknown Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
Gold Plate
1980s Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
Gold Plate
1990s American Modern Chain Bracelets
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, White Gold
Early 2000s English Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Quartz, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
Gilt Metal
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
2010s Colombian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Chain Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chain Bracelets
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 1...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chain Bracelets
Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s French Modern Chain Bracelets
Gold Plate
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chain Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Unknown Vintage Modern Chain Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chain Bracelets
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Ukrainian Modern Chain Bracelets
Natural Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold