Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
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.
Late 20th Century Italian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Yellow Gold, Steel
2010s British Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
2010s British Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Blue Sapphire, Tourmaline, Spinel, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink...
1880s American Antique Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
22k Gold
2010s British Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Blue Sapphire, Tourmaline, Spinel, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink...
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s Italian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Aquamarine, Coral, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Yellow Gold, Other
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Quartz, Turquoise, Amethyst, Emerald, Malachite, Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold
2010s British Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Spinel, Tourmaline, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1810s German Antique Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Berlin Iron
1970s British Vintage Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Moonstone, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
White Diamond, Topaz, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Citrine, Opal, Tourmaline, Pyrite, Jasper, Fire Opal, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Amethyst, Citrine, Opal, Peridot, Silver, Copper
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Malachite, Yellow Sapphire, Citrine, Tourmaline, Jasper, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Amethyst, Labradorite, Moonstone, Pearl, Quartz, 24k Gold, Silver
20th Century Ethiopian Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Opal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Citrine, Peridot, Quartz, Ruby, Amethyst, Gold, 24k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Quartz, Topaz, Tourmaline, Druzy, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Citrine, Quartz, Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Amethyst, Opal, Larimar, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Chrysophrase, Labradorite, Malachite, Peridot, Topaz, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Garnet, Quartz, Tourmaline, Silver
Early 2000s American Modern More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Diamond, White Diamond, Sterling Silver