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.
2010s Italian Modern More Rings
Agate, Rubelite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern More Rings
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Kunzite, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern More Rings
Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern More Rings
Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Modern More Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern More Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Jade, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern More Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern More Rings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern More Rings
Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern More Rings
14k Gold
1970s American Vintage Modern More Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Modern More Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s English Modern More Rings
Diamond, Aquamarine, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Modern More Rings
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold-filled
2010s Turkish Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s British Vintage Modern More Rings
Citrine, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern More Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century European Modern More Rings
Indicolite, Tourmaline, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Modern More Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s British Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold
2010s Colombian Modern More Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s German Modern More Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Mixed Metal, Sterling Silver, Silver, Rhod...
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern More Rings
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Modern More Rings
Pink Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Modern More Rings
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Modern More Rings
Tourmaline, Turquoise
2010s American Modern More Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern More Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Multi-gemstone, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
2010s Colombian Modern More Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern More Rings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern More Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Austrian Modern More Rings
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern More Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1990s European Modern More Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern More Rings
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s French Modern More Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold