Modern Beaded Necklaces
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 Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Beaded Necklaces
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s North American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Gilt Metal
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Gold-filled
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Aquamarine, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Onyx, Black Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Brazilian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Rubelite, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
1980s Canadian Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
1950s French Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
1950s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, Opal, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1960s Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Brazilian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Tourmaline
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Sapphire, Turquoise, Citrine, Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Yellow ...
2010s Dutch Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Dutch Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Hematite, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pink Sapphire, Citrine, Opal, Agate, Chalcedony, Moonstone, Morganite, R...
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Aquamarine, Citrine, Opal, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Turquoise, Chrysophrase,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 9k Gold
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Opal, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Ruby, White Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Brass, Copper
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1990s Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Japanese Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold