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.
1970s American Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Onyx, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Emerald
1990s Contemporary Brooches
Sapphire
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Brooches
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
White Diamond, Emerald, Other, 18k Gold, Platinum
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Citrine, Gold
1980s German Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Blue Topaz, Paraiba, Tourmaline, Topaz, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Go...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Kunzite, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Chalcedony, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Austrian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum
2010s Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Rose Gold, ...
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century French Contemporary Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s British Contemporary Brooches
Other, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s Contemporary Brooches
Amethyst, Chalcedony
Mid-20th Century French Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 2000s German Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Onyx, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Topaz, Tourmaline, Blue Topaz, Paraiba, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Rose G...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Brooches
Beryl, Citrine, Diamond, Garnet, Peridot, Quartz, Sapphire, Tourmaline, ...
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Coral, Jade, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Contemporary Brooches
Aquamarine, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Brooches
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Topaz, White Gold, Gold, Rhodium
1950s European Vintage Contemporary Brooches
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold