Modern Pendant 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.
Mid-20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass
Late 20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s French Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, Topaz, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1960s Unknown Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Diamond, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Hematite, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Tanzanite, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1970s American Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Mid-20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1990s French Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
1990s French Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Norwegian Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s French Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Spanish Modern Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Enamel, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Late 20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Turkish Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Irish Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Diamond, Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century European Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
1940s American Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s French Vintage Modern Pendant Necklaces
Enamel, Gilt Metal