Modern Cufflinks
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 American Modern Cufflinks
Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Cufflinks
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s European Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, White Gold
2010s Austrian Modern Cufflinks
Citrine
2010s American Modern Cufflinks
Natural Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Tiger's Eye, Onyx, Diamond, Yellow...
Late 19th Century Antique Modern Cufflinks
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Cufflinks
Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Cufflinks
Carnelian, Silver
2010s Austrian Modern Cufflinks
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Finnish Vintage Modern Cufflinks
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, P...
2010s Thai Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s American Vintage Modern Cufflinks
Chrysoberyl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Danish Modern Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Cufflinks
Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Austrian Modern Cufflinks
Amethyst, White Diamond, Black Diamond, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold
Late 20th Century Belgian Modern Cufflinks
Chalcedony, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cufflinks
White Diamond, Sapphire, Diamond, Purple Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cufflinks
Chrysophrase, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Modern Cufflinks
Opal, 18k Gold
1970s British Vintage Modern Cufflinks
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Modern Cufflinks
Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Cufflinks
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Cufflinks
Crystal, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cufflinks
Hematite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Cufflinks
Onyx, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Cufflinks
Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Cufflinks
White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cufflinks
White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Cufflinks
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Rose Gold
1990s American Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Modern Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cufflinks
White Diamond, Sapphire, Diamond, Purple Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cufflinks
14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Spanish Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Chinese Modern Cufflinks
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cufflinks
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cufflinks
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cufflinks
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern Cufflinks
Silver Plate, Enamel
2010s Italian Modern Cufflinks
Tanzanite, Garnet, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Gold