Contemporary Vanity Items
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.
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s French Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Contemporary Vanity Items
Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, 24k Gold, Silver
1990s American Contemporary Vanity Items
Silver
1990s Japanese Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Vanity Items
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 24k Gold, Gold Plate, Yell...
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Vanity Items
Gold, 24k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s German Contemporary Vanity Items
Agate, Chalcedony, Quartz
1990s American Contemporary Vanity Items
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Vanity Items
Rose Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1970s American Vintage Contemporary Vanity Items
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Contemporary Vanity Items
Silver
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century South African Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Vanity Items
Diamond, 18k Gold