Contemporary Drop Earrings
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 American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pink Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Morganite, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Egyptian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Zircon, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Drop Earrings
Quartz, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Earrings
Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Amber, Diamond, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Rhodium,...
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Drop Earrings
Sapphire, Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Crystal, Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Drop Earrings
Quartz, Oriental Pearl, Natural Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl,...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Malachite, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Belgian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Ruby, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
Tourmaline, Turquoise, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Kunzite, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings
Citrine, Diamond, Peridot, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Morganite, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Drop Earrings
Quartz, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Contemporary Drop Earrings
Crystal, Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Brown Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold