Modern 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 Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s British Modern Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Purple Sapphire,...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Dutch Vintage Modern Rings
Chrysophrase, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century French Modern Rings
18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Modern Rings
Chrysophrase, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Go...
Early 2000s English Modern Rings
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Rings
Alexandrite, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, Platinum
2010s British Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1980s Dutch Vintage Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Silver, Sterling Silver
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Rings
Diamond, Jade, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Kunzite, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Rings
Diamond, Peridot, Tourmaline, Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern Rings
Aquamarine, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Black Diamond, Morganite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Citrine, Diamond, Silver
2010s Asian Modern Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Colombian Modern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Rings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Lebanese Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Rings
Chrysophrase, Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Amethyst, Silver
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Sapphire, Tanzanite, Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
