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, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Rings
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Jade, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Rings
Cat’s Eye, Diamond, Alexandrite, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Rings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Rings
Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Modern Rings
Coral, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Amethyst, Topaz, Silver
1950s Spanish Vintage Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s North American Modern Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Rings
Aquamarine, White Diamond, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Mid-20th Century American Modern Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
2010s European Modern Rings
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s French Modern Rings
Rubelite, Sapphire, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Italian Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Modern Rings
Emerald, Platinum
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
1950s British Vintage Modern Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Modern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Rings
Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Asian Modern Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s German Modern Rings
Peridot, Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Rings
Diamond, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Rings
Ruby, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Rings
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Iolite, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Rings
Jade, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Rings
Peridot, Citrine, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold