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Modern Necklaces

MODERN STYLE

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.

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Creator: Harbor Diamonds
Style: Modern
Oval Paperclip Link Chain Necklace 14 Karat Yellow Gold 25 Grams 18 Inches
Located in New York, NY
Oval shape link necklace weighing 25.2 grams in 14 karat yellow gold. Made in Italy.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gold Paperclip Chain Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Gold paperclip Necklace 9.65 g. 16" long Made in Italy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold, Gold

Yellow Gold Paperclip Link Chain Necklace
Located in New York, NY
14K Italian paper clip chain 18" long Additional Charms available
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Oval Yellow Gold Paperclip Chain Necklace 25.19 g.
Located in New York, NY
weight: 25.19 g. 18" long
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Yellow Gold Round Disc Chain with Ruby Beaded Padlock Charm
Located in New York, NY
Ruby charm lock9.3 G. 1"in length Chain 8.8 g 20"in length
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gold Paperclip Link Necklace
Located in New York, NY
8.73g. made in Italy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold

Diamond Riviere Necklace 10.02 Carats H-I SI1-SI3 18 Karat White Gold
Located in New York, NY
Diamond Riviere necklace featuring 153 round brilliants weighing 10.02 Carats, in a 3 prong 14 Karat White Gold. Center Diamond 0.90 Points Two Side Diamonds 0.71 Total Weight Color...
Category

2010s Modern Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Diamond Straight Line Necklace 9.07 Carats 14k White Gold Average 0.05cts
Located in New York, NY
Diamond straight line necklace featuring 178 round brilliants weighing 9.07 Carats. Average Diamknds 0.05 pts Color G-H Clarity SI1-2 We manufacture Straight line and Riviere Necklaces Sizes Range 1 -26 Carats Can customize any length, carat size, gold color. Diamonds are graded by our in house Gemologist. Search Harbor Diamonds to see all our necklaces. DM for more pictures & videos on...
Category

2010s Modern Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

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Previously Available Items
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Gold Paperclip Link Necklace
Gold Paperclip Link Necklace
Free Shipping
L 18 in
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Gold Paper Clip Necklace
Located in New York, NY
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Yellow Gold Paperclip Necklace with Yellow Gold Diamond Link
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Diamond Link Paperclip Necklace
Diamond Link Paperclip Necklace
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L 16.5 in
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