Modern Solitaire 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 Zambian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Opal, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Solitaire Rings
Sapphire, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, White Gold, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver, R...
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s British Vintage Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Solitaire Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Blue Topaz, Peridot, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, White Gold,...
2010s Turkish Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Solitaire Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Solitaire Rings
Jade, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Italian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Modern Solitaire Rings
Tourmaline
2010s American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Colombian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, 14k Gold
2010s Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold
2010s American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Colombian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond
2010s Zambian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s German Modern Solitaire Rings
Citrine, Gold, Bronze, 18k Gold
2010s British Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Zambian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
2010s Colombian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Emerald
2010s Zambian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Gold
2010s Zambian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Gold
2010s Italian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Solitaire Rings
Aquamarine, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Solitaire Rings
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Silver
2010s Unknown Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Peridot, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Whit...
2010s American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Solitaire Rings
Jade, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s British Vintage Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Emerald, White Gold
2010s American Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Rhodium, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Solitaire Rings
Amethyst, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Solitaire Rings
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Tanzanian Modern Solitaire Rings
Spinel, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s British Vintage Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Solitaire Rings
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Solitaire Rings
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Solitaire Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold