Contemporary Drop 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.
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Opal, Quartz, Tourmaline, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Chalcedony, Iolite, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Iolite, Lapis Lazuli, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Contemporary Drop Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s Portuguese Vintage Contemporary Drop Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Chalcedony, Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Chalcedony, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, Quartz, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Tourmaline, Spinel, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Tourmaline, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Spinel, 22k Gold
2010s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 22k Gold