Modern Engagement Rings

MODERN STYLE

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.

Style: Modern

Angara Gia Certified Natural Opal Split Shank Halo Ring in Rose Gold

Modern Engagement Rings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Opal Split Shank Halo Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural 2.87ct Rubelite & Diamond Halo 14K Yellow Gold Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara GIA Certified Natural Pear-Shaped Morganite Halo Ring in Yellow Gold

2010s American Modern Engagement Rings

2.40 Carat Dark Forest Green Pear Emerald Bezel Solitaire Engagement Ring 14K

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Ruby Bypass Ring in Yellow Gold with Side Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Ruby Bypass Ring in Yellow Gold with Side Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Ring in Rose Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Sapphire Solitaire Ring in Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Ring in Platinum with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Yellow Gold Ring with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Ring in White Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Ring in Rose Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Yellow Gold Ring with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Halo Ring in White Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Rainbow Moonstone Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA Claw-Set GIA Certified Natural Tourmaline Yellow Gold Ring with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Illusion Marquise Diamond Studded in 14K Solid White Gold Ring Engagement Ring

2010s European Modern Engagement Rings

1.84 Carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Three Stone Platinum Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Ring in White Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Yellow Gold Ring with Trio Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Aquamarine Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamond Accents

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Pink Tourmaline Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamond

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Aquamarine Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamond Accents

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Aquamarine Ring in Rose Gold with Diamond Accents

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Opal Split Shank Halo Ring in Yellow Gold

2010s Belgian Modern Engagement Rings

Natural Diamond Ring 1.27 CT 18KT White Gold Natural Emerald Ring R18528

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Pear-Shaped Morganite Halo Ring in White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Pink Tourmaline Ring in Rose Gold with Diamond Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Orange Sapphire Diamond Halo Ring in Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Orange Sapphire Diamond Halo Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Pink Sapphire Knife Edge Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Pink Sapphire Ring in Rose Gold with Diamond Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Tanzanite Split Shank Halo Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Tanzanite Split Shank Halo Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Tanzanite Split Shank Halo Ring in White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Tanzanite Nature Inspired Ring in White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Tanzanite Nature Inspired Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Tanzanite Nature Inspired Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Ring in Rose Gold with Trio Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings