Modern 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 Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Finnish Vintage Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Necklaces
White Diamond, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Necklaces
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Pink Diamond, White Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Emerald, Onyx, Opal
2010s Turkish Modern Necklaces
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Necklaces
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Kunzite, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s British Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Necklaces
Multi-gemstone, 14k Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl, Gold Plate
1970s Unknown Vintage Modern Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Necklaces
Iolite, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s American Vintage Modern Necklaces
Carnelian, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s North American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s Vintage Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Malachite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Necklaces
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Agate, Zircon, Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Platinum
1950s German Vintage Modern Necklaces
Gold, Gilt Metal, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
White Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 2000s Modern Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel