Modern More 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.
2010s Australian Modern More Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Tourmaline, Freshwater Pearl, Silver, Sterling Si...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Tanzanite, Platinum
1960s Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern More Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Rose Gold, Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Multi-gemstone, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Carnelian, Onyx, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Crystal, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Modern More Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Modern More Necklaces
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Amethyst, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Pearl, 24k Gold, Gold Plate
1960s British Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli
1980s Austrian Vintage Modern More Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s American Vintage Modern More Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 10k Gold, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Modern More Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Malachite, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Jasper
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Pearl
1960s British Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Pearl, 9k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Israeli Modern More Necklaces
14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
1950s American Vintage Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern More Necklaces
Sapphire, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Modern More Necklaces
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold