Contemporary More Jewelry
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 Italian Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Unknown Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1970s Italian Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary More Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold, White ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary More Jewelry
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Contemporary More Jewelry
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1960s American Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Chrysophrase, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yel...
20th Century Contemporary More Jewelry
Gold Plate
1950s British Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Silver
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold...
1970s French Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary More Jewelry
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold