Modern More Jewelry
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.
1950s British Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern More Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry
2010s British Modern More Jewelry
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern More Jewelry
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
Gold, 24k Gold, Silver
2010s Modern More Jewelry
Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
2010s British Modern More Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Enamel, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Early 2000s British Modern More Jewelry
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry
20th Century Unknown Modern More Jewelry
2010s Hong Kong Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
Silver, Gold, 24k Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Gold Plate, Bronze, Enamel, Gilt Metal
1980s Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Malachite, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
2010s Turkish Modern More Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1990s Brazilian Modern More Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s French Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Mid-20th Century American Modern More Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s British Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Jewelry
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White...
1980s Italian Vintage Modern More Jewelry
2010s Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold
20th Century American Modern More Jewelry
Yellow Gold
2010s British Modern More Jewelry
Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Jewelry
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Jewelry
Chrome Tourmaline, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Wh...
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern More Jewelry
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern More Jewelry
Crystal, Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1990s Unknown Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Swiss Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Jewelry
Black Diamond, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Modern More Jewelry
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
2010s English Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern More Jewelry
24k Gold
1960s Finnish Vintage Modern More Jewelry
Gold
2010s Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold