Modern Drop 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 Balinese Modern Drop Necklaces
Tanzanite, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Kunzite, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Drop Necklaces
Sapphire, Tsavorite, Citrine, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Go...
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Drop Necklaces
18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Drop Necklaces
Agate, Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Israeli Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Unknown Vintage Modern Drop Necklaces
2010s Australian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Drop Necklaces
Crystal, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern Drop Necklaces
Bronze
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Aquamarine, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Aquamarine, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Necklaces
Pink Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Drop Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Black Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Tsavorite, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Drop Necklaces
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 2000s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, White Gold, 14k Gold
1940s Mexican Vintage Modern Drop Necklaces
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Necklaces
Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Modern Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Jade, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold