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.

Period: 21st Century and Contemporary

Style: Modern

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Rainbow Moonstone Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamonds

Modern Engagement Rings

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 Gia Certified Natural Sapphire Halo Yellow Gold Ring with Diamond Accents

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Sapphire Classic Cushion Halo Ring in White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Sapphire Halo Rose Gold Ring with Diamond Accents

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural 2.87ct Rubelite & Diamond Halo 18K Yellow Gold Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Amethyst Bypass Ring in White Gold with Milgrain

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Teal Sapphire Ring in White Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Teal Sapphire Tapered Ring in Rose Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Teal Sapphire Tapered Ring in White Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Teal Sapphire Tapered Ring in White Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Teal Sapphire Tapered Ring in Yellow Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Teal Sapphire Tapered Ring in Rose Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Teal Sapphire Diamond Shank Ring in Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Sapphire Diamond Halo Split Shank Rose Gold Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Sapphire Halo Ring in White Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Teal Sapphire Diamond Shank Ring in Rose Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Oval Pink Sapphire Ring in Rose Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural 1.54ct Ruby Halo Ring with Diamond in White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Oval Pink Sapphire Ring in Rose Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Round Ruby Diamond Halo Split Shank Rose Gold Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Ruby Halo Ring in White Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Ruby Halo Ring in White Gold with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

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

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Emerald Solitaire 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 Round Blue Sapphire Ring in Rose Gold with Halo

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Round Blue Sapphire Ring in Yellow Gold with Halo

2010s American Modern Engagement Rings

Rachel Koen Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring 14K Yellow Gold 0.70Cttw

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA Claw-Set GIA Certified Oval Pink Sapphire White Gold Ring with Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Ruby Bypass Ring in Rose Gold with Side Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Ruby Bypass Ring in Rose Gold with Side Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

ANGARA GIA Certified Natural Tanzanite Halo Ring with Milgrain in Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara GIA Certified Natural Sapphire Art Deco Inspired Halo Ring in Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Sapphire Art Deco Inspired Halo Ring in White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

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

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Twisted Split Shank Rose Gold Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

Angara Gia Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Split Shank Ring in Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings

GIA Certified Natural Rainbow Moonstone Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamonds

2010s European Modern Engagement Rings

Gents Dior Homme Diamond Ring 18 Karat White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings