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.
$49Sale Price / item|30% Off
Nijma M Fine Jewelry Modern White Velvet Ring Roll Box
Located in Toronto, CA
Whether at home, on the go, or traveling, make sure your precious rings are always safe with this white crushed velvet jewelry box pochette case with gold tassel detailing. The perfe...
$320Sale Price|20% Off
Skull Light Holder Chain Gun Metal Vintage - J Dauphin
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Skull and Bone, Light Holder with Chains in a Gun metal, Ruthenium Plating, Vintage 2008. Measurement: Height 3 1/4 inches, width 1 1/16 inches Condition: Has lost a bit of shine...
Brass
Antique Austrian Engraved 935 Silver Snuff Box by Leo Wagner ex-Buatta
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique snuff or trinket box. In .935 silver. By Leo Wagner. With engraved decoration throughout and the lid with a bezel-set cabochon of semi-translucent horn. From the c...
Silver
Jocelyn Burton Seashell and Moonstone Encrusted Sterling Silver Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine cylindrical sterling silver box by Jocelyn Burton. The box's lid is richly encrusted with miniature silver sea shells and bezel set with 2 ...
Moonstone, Sterling Silver
Vintage Figural J. E. Caldwell Apple Shaped Sterling Silver Covered Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A terrific apple shaped covered box. In sterling silver and marked for J. E. Caldwell. A wonderful vintage box with great design! Date: 20th Century Overall Condition: It is in o...
Sterling Silver
American Sterling Silver Cigarette Case with Enamel Nautical Flags
Located in New York, NY
Nautical sterling silver and enamel cigarette case. Made by Thomae in Attleboro, Mass., ca 1960. Rectangular and hinged. Signal flags enameled on front. Gi...
Sterling Silver
Silver Hermes Paris 1960 Compact Powder Case
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
Hermès Paris Silver Compact Powder Case – Circa 1960 A refined expression of mid-century elegance, this Hermès compact powder case from the 1960s is crafted in solid silver with a t...
Silver
William Spratling Mexican Mid-Century Modernist Parcel Gilt Sterling Silver Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Mexican Modernist table box. In sterling silver. By William Spratling. With a diaper trellis or lattice pattern throughout punctuated with parcel gilt knops or buttons. Se...
Sterling Silver
$302Sale Price|44% Off
Vintage Bulgari White Leather Keychain Model 22234
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
A Stylish Fusion of Functionality and Refined Italian Craftsmanship Add a touch of luxury to your everyday essentials with this Vintage Bulgari Keychain, meticulously fashioned in wh...
Base Metal
$4,875Sale Price|25% Off
LOUIS VUITTON MONOGRAM jewelry Case Pre-owned authentic
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This was a gift given to my brother who recently passed away. It has NEVER been used and even has its original handle cover, two jewelry levels with different with removable tray a...
Brass
Austrian Guilloche Enamel Silver & Glass Table or Dresser Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Austrian glass, silver, & enamel table or dresser box. By Georg Adam Scheid. With a cornucopia or vase form decoration enamel flowers in a guilloche cartouche. The r...
Silver, Enamel
$1,038Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.93 in Dm 1.85 in
German Pforzheim 1910 Art Nouveau Guilloche Enamel Box 935 Sterling With Flowers
Located in Miami, FL
A guilloche enameled round box with flowers Beautiful enameled round box, created in Pforzheim Germany, during the art nouveau period back in the 1910 This beautiful box was careful...
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique yellow gold carnelian snuff box
Located in Braintree, GB
Antique 18kt yellow gold snuff box, featuring a carnelian stone set within an ornate, scrollwork border. Material: Crafted in 18kt yellow gold, the box showcases an ornate, Rococo-...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$766
H 2.56 in W 3.94 in D 2.37 in
Antique Box Dog Token Of Fidelity + Friendship Polished Steel Velvet Leather
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This charming box was handcrafted in 1830 ca. It was most probably a sentimental gift, a token of fidelity and friendship. It is made out of wood covered in velvet. The inside is li...
Steel
$1,350
H 0.87 in W 1.72 in L 2.75 in
Gianmaria Buccellati Rare Vintage Sterling Silver Turtle Trinket Pill Box
By Buccellati
Located in Simpsonville, SC
Discover the charm and artistry of Italian master craftsmanship with this Gianmaria Buccellati Rare Vintage Sterling Silver Turtle Trinket/Pill Box. Exquisitely handcrafted, this del...
Sterling Silver
$1,100
H 0.75 in W 1.38 in L 2.25 in
Buccellati Rare Vintage Sterling Silver Turtle Small Trinket Pill Box
By Buccellati
Located in Simpsonville, SC
The Buccellati Rare Vintage Sterling Silver Turtle Small Pill Box is a beautifully crafted and unique collectible that embodies the exquisite artistry and meticulous craftsmanship fo...
Sterling Silver
Fine Art Vessel Carved with Relief from Master Engraver Amayak Stepanyan
Located in Boulder, CO
Vessel Color: Deep Blue Size: Diameter 1-3/8" X 2-1/8"" Tall This beautiful vessel bears a classical Sterling Silver acanthus leaf medallion inset into its cap. Designed and carved in relief by master engraver Amayak Stepanyan, its low dome is crowned with a 6 mm diameter natural Hematite gemstone set in one of our signature Sterling Silver bezels. The vessel also features a Rose Engine...
Hematite, Sterling Silver
Midnight Blue Sterling Silver Vessel with Peridot by Designer Astral Vessel's
Located in Boulder, CO
This perfectly tailored deep blue Vessel features a cap that we carved with a harlequin pattern using our antique Rose Engine. The top of the cap is inse...
Peridot, Silver, Titanium
$14,145
W 3.15 in L 5.56 in
Gustave-Roger Sandoz, Rare Art Deco Silver and Enamel Cigarette Case, circa 1925
Located in Paris, FR
Express Shipping still available during Lockdown Gustave-Roger Sandoz Cigarette Case, Circa 1925 Silver with Enamel geometric decoration on both sides. The clasp set with a cabochon...
Onyx, Silver
Enamel Box with Diamond and Rubies Handcrafted in 18 Karat Gold
By Jay Rawat
Located in Jaipur, IN
A beautiful box with fine enamel work studded with Diamonds and Rubies. Similar enamel work can be seen in Indian and Mughal jewellery from centuries ag...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
$49Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 2 in W 3.75 in L 4.5 in
White Crushed Velvet Jewelry Pochette Box with Gold Tassel
Located in Toronto, CA
Whether at home, on the go, or traveling, make sure your precious jewels are always safe with this white crushed velvet pochette case with gold tassel detailing. Featuring a multi-purpose insert with two sides. One side of the insert suitable for two pairs of earrings and one necklace or bracelet. The other side suitable for one ring. Insert is also completely removable from pochette box. Dimensions of pochette box: Length: 4.5" Width: 3.75" Thickness: 2" White crushed velvet Gold tassel and cord detailing Jewelry pictured (all available on 1st Dibs, please visit Nijma M Fine Jewelry storefront): - 'Blue Ice' blue topaz triple band ring in 14K yellow gold (available in multiple sizes) - 'Diamond Plaza' square hoop earrings with diamonds in 14K yellow gold - 'The High Life' blue topaz and diamond crawler...
$420Sale Price|20% Off
W 1.75 in D 1 in L 2 in
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Gilt Chatelaine Box, Austria, c. 1890-1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is an antique Art Nouveau style silver chatelaine box. It comes from Austria with gilt inside silver box with iris motif on the lid. I have included a 19.25 inch sterling silver...
Silver, Gilt Metal
Bulgari Melone 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Sapphire Pendant Box
By Bulgari
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
Bulgari Melone Pendant Box, ca. 1970s A fine 18K yellow gold and sapphire pendant box by Bulgari. The iconic oval egg-shaped, gold body finely fluted ...
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Hermès Paris Cornucopia Leather Box, Silver-Plated – 1970
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
A symbol of abundance, rendered with restraint. Crafted in 1970, this modernist Hermès charm box embodies the refined material contrasts and clean geometry characteristic of the era...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 1.48 in W 1.27 in D 1.3 in
Antique Dutch .833 Silver Figural Three Anchors / Barrel Matchsafe or Vesta
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique, figural Dutch silver matchsafe or vesta. In .833 silver. In the form of a barrel with an applied triple anchor device to the lid. (Possibly a reference to Three Anc...
Silver
Vintage Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Figural Hex Bolt Miniature Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, older vintage signed miniature box. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. In the form of a hex head bolt. Marked Tiffany & Co. / Sterling to the bottom of the lid Together with its original but (quite soiled) Tiffany felt pouch. . Simply a wonderfully rare trinket box...
Sterling Silver
Cartier “C de Decor” Silver Money Clip
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A Sophisticated Accessory for the Modern Gentleman Elevate your daily essentials with this Cartier “C de Decor” Money Clip, a sleek and refined piece tailored for the discerning man....
Silver, Sterling Silver
Pillbox in 18 karat Yellow Gold by Meister Zürich
Located in Lucerne, CH
This 18-karat yellow gold pillbox by Meister Zürich radiates timeless charm and elegance. Meticulously crafted with intricate detailing, it highlights the unparalleled artistry of Sw...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Tiffany & Co. 14k Yellow Gold Ruby Rolodex RARE!
Located in New York, NY
Rare Tiffany & Co. Rolodex from the 1950s, is a highly collectible piece in unused condition. The rolodex is crafted in 14k yellow gold with pattern. A cabochon ruby is set on the pa...
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Andy Warhol - S.T Dupont Line 2 Lighter
By Andy Warhol
Located in London, GB
Rare Item - Andy Warhol - S.T Dupont Line 2 Lighter Rare palladium plated lighter, features a lacquered double portrait of Elvis Presley, inspired by Warhol’s legendary artwork. At...
Sold
H 20 in W 7 in L 14 in
LOUIS VUITTON Flower HOBO Handbag LV Monogram In Leather With Box, Bag & Booklet
Located in Miami, FL
Hobo handbag designed by Louis Vuitton. This is the very rare and hard to find flower HOBO handbag, created by the Parisian luxury house of Louis Vuitton. Indulge in luxury with the...
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Figural Ball of Yarn or Coiled Rope Pill Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine figural vanity box or pill box. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. In the form of a coiled ball of rope (or ball of yarn). Marked to the interior rim with Tiffany & Co. ...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Figural Artichoke Vanity or Pill Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine figural vanity box or pill box. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. In the form of an artichoke. Marked to the base with Tiffany & Co. / Sterling / 925 / Italy. Simply a...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.4 in W 2.37 in L 3.25 in
Cartier London Gold Lava Pattern Cigarette Case Compact Pill Box with Gemstone
By Cartier
Located in Fairfield, CT
Amazingly made English hallmarked, high finish 9-karat gold Cartier London compact. Crafted with exquisite attention to detail, this luxurious compact features a distinctive textured...
Garnet, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold