Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Gold Plate
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver Plate
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, ...
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Yellow Diamond...
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Gold Plate
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Gold Plate
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Gold Plate
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver Plate
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Amazonite, Amethyst, Quartz, Ruby, Jasper, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Tsavorite, Brown Diamond, Pink Sapphire,...
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver Plate
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Gold Plate
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver Plate
2010s Thai Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Amethyst, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, Blue Sapphire, Agate, Jade, Gold...
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Jade, Tsavorite, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Jade, Blue Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Amethyst, Quartz, Jasper, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Diamond, Jade, Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Diamond, Jade, Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Quartz, Jasper, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Jade, Blue Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Jasper, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Silver
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Crystal, Onyx, Platinum, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Blue Sapphire, Jasper, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Crystal, Onyx, Platinum, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Sterling Silver
2010s British Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Sterling Silver