Contemporary Jewelry
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow...
21st Century and Contemporary Tanzanian Contemporary Jewelry
Tanzanite
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Paraiba, Tourmaline, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Congolese Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Beryl, Multi-gemstone, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Peridot, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 1...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Mandarin Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Garnet, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinu...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yel...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, Citrine, Yellow Gold, White Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Beryl, White Gold, 18k ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Congolese Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Mozambican Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, Beryl
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Contemporary Jewelry
Peridot
21st Century and Contemporary Bolivian Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Quartz, Amethyst
21st Century and Contemporary Malagasy Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, Beryl
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Tanzanian Contemporary Jewelry
Garnet, Mandarin Garnet
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Imperial Topaz, Topaz
21st Century and Contemporary Nigerian Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Mandarin Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Garnet, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinu...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, White G...
21st Century and Contemporary Congolese Contemporary Jewelry
Zircon, Blue Zircon
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Chrome Tourmaline, Tourmaline, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, W...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Nigerian Contemporary Jewelry
Garnet, Mandarin Garnet
21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Contemporary Jewelry
Peridot
21st Century and Contemporary Malagasy Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, Beryl
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline, Other
21st Century and Contemporary Nigerian Contemporary Jewelry
Garnet, Mandarin Garnet
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow...
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Topaz, Imperial Topaz