Modern Earrings
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 Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Earrings
Turquoise, 14k Gold
1990s Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Rubelite, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s English Modern Earrings
Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century British Modern Earrings
Diamond, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Crystal, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Earrings
Agate, Emerald, Jade, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Earrings
Late 20th Century Mexican Modern Earrings
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Modern Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Gold
1990s French Modern Earrings
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Modern Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Morganite, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Modern Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, White Gold
1990s Modern Earrings
Pearl, White Gold
2010s Belgian Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, Topaz, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Zambian Modern Earrings
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Modern Earrings
Rock Crystal, Freshwater Pearl, Gilt Metal
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Turquoise, 14k Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Earrings
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold