Contemporary Chain Necklaces
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.
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Swiss Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
1980s English Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold-filled, Enamel
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Tourmaline, Indicolite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Garnet, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Silver Plate
20th Century Swiss Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s Swiss Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Sterling Silver
20th Century French Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Silver Plate
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Gold-filled
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Platinum
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Mixed Metal