Modern More Rings
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.
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Sapphire, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Rings
Zircon, Silver, Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern More Rings
Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Aquamarine, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern More Rings
Diamond, Opal, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Moonstone, Rainbow Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Indian Modern More Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Modern More Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Indian Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Finnish Vintage Modern More Rings
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Malachite, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Aquamarine, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Garnet, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Modern More Rings
Amethyst, Sapphire, Tourmaline, Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Modern More Rings
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Topaz, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Peridot, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern More Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s British Vintage Modern More Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Tanzanite, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Modern More Rings
Turquoise, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Labradorite, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern More Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s British Vintage Modern More Rings
Gold, 22k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold-filled
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern More Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold