Contemporary Brooches
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 American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary Burmese Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Garnet, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
White Diamond, Emerald, Other, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Brooches
1970s Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Emerald
Late 20th Century Contemporary Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Peridot, Sapphire, Pearl, T...
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s American Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Jade, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Contemporary Brooches
14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Brooches
Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s French Contemporary Brooches
14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow ...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Brooches
Chalcedony, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow G...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold, 22k ...
1950s American Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Zircon, Pearl, Emerald, Black Diamond, Diamond, Coral, Carnelian, Yellow...
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Spinel, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Brooches
Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Enamel
1990s Contemporary Brooches
Amethyst, Chalcedony
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, White Gold
1980s German Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
20th Century Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold