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.
Brandimarte 925 sterling silver frying pan for cooking
Located in Perugia, IT
925/ooo sterling silver frying pan for cooking Manufactured by Brandimarte - Florence - Italy Weight g 1470 30 cm diameter Height 5,5 cm Length including handle 60 cm This frying p...
Sterling Silver
St. Lucia Souvenir Collection Silver Teaspoon
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
St Lucia Souvenir Collection Silver Teaspoon Length 4.37in / 11.1cm Width 0.90in / 2.5cm Weight 15.1gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run busine...
Silver
Brandimarte 925 sterling silver cooking pot
Located in Perugia, IT
925/ooo sterling silver cooking pot Manufactured by Brandimarte - Florence - Italy Weight g 1230 Diameter cm 19,5 Height cm 11,5 Length including handle 45 cm This pot is really bu...
Sterling Silver
Disneyland Collection Silver Teaspoon
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Disneyland Collection Silver Teaspoon Length 4.40in / 11.2cm Width 0.98in / 2.5cm Weight 14.1gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run busin...
Silver
Antigua Collection Silver Teaspoon
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Antigua Collection Silver Teaspoon Length 3.70in / 9.4cm Width 0.78in / 2cm Weight 12gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewe...
Silver
Boston Collection Silver Teaspoon
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Boston Collection Silver Teaspoon Length 3.54in / 9cm Width 0.78in / 2cm Weight 7.5gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewele...
Silver
Queen Mary Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Queen Mary Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine Length 4.68in / 11.9cm Width 0.86in / 2.2cm Weight 8.1gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewelers of ref...
Silver
Colombian Republic 1916 Souvenir Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Colombian Republic 1916 Souvenir Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine Length 4.84in / 12.3cm Width 1.18in / 3cm Weight 16gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewelers of reference in Spain, with a large track record being official distributers of prime European jewelry...
Silver
Windsor Souvenir Collection Silver Teaspoon
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Windsor Silver Teaspoon Length 4.40in / 11.2cm Width 0.90in / 2.3cm Weight 12.4gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewelers of...
Silver
Inverness Collection Souvenir Silver Teaspoon with child in cross
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Inverness Silver Teaspoon Length 3.38in / 8.6cm Width 0.90in / 2.3cm Weight 10.3gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewelers of reference in Spain, with a l...
Silver
Las Vegas Collection Silver Teaspoon
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Las Vegas Collection Silver Teaspoon Length 4.29in / 10.9cm Width 0.78in / 2cm Weight 9gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business je...
Silver
Montreal Canada Maple Leaf Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Montreal Canada Maple Leaf Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine Length 3.58in / 9.1cm Width 0.70in / 1.8cm Weight 7.7gr PRADERA is a second g...
Silver
Lugano City Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Lugano City Collection Silver Teaspoon with Figurine Length 3.93in / 10cm Width 0.82in / 2.1cm Weight 9.4gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewelers of reference in Spain, with a large track record being official distributers of prime European jewelry...
Silver
Price Upon Request
MOISEIKIN Silver Nephrite Lotus Spoon
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
MOISEIKIN's exquisite LOTUS tea set made with genuine silver and gem quality Ural nephrite, a spiritual and energy stone. Genuine nephrite is rich in minerals and trace elements, has a caring effect on the skin, and relieves stress. The texture is delicate and smooth, releasing a pleasant mood. Jade is a symbol of status and wealth. Water-soaked in jade or nephrite stone can approach or reach the standard of high-quality mineral water within three hours. Traces of selenium released when brewing tea with a jade tea set...
Diamond, Jade, Quartz, Silver
Tiffany & Co Audubon Sterling Silver Iced Tea Spoon 7 3/8" #23102
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Tiffany & Co Audubon Sterling Silver Iced Tea Spoon Designed by Edward C. Moore in 1871, the Audubon pattern was inspired by Japanese bird paintings of the 19th century. This iced t...
Sterling Silver
$950 / set
H 0.48 in W 0.87 in L 5.83 in
Set of 6 Antique Richard Garten 800 Silver & Dresden Porcelain Dessert Spoons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 6 antique silver & porcelain dessert (or possibly demitasse) spoons. By Richard Garten. In gilt 800 silver. With raised enamel jeweling to the Dresden porcelain han...
Silver
Allan Adler Salad Servers
By Allan Adler
Located in Darnestown, MD
Modernist set of salad servers by Allan Adler in sterling and ebony. Streamlined and elegant. Spoon is 13" in length; fork is 12 7/8". Very good condition.
Sterling Silver
Antique Stieff Sterling Silver Repousse Salt Shaker
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique silver salt shaker. In sterling silver. By Stieff. With repousse flower decoration throughout and 3 small feet. Simply a...
Sterling Silver
$3,850 / set
H 0.25 in Dm 3.13 in
Rare Set of 9 Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Vine Pattern Butter Pats
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An extremely rare set of sterling silver butter pats. In the Vine pattern decorated with raised poppies and other flowers around the rim's edge. By Tiffany & Co. Monogrammed to t...
Sterling Silver
$325
W 1.5 in L 6.88 in
Tiffany & Co Chrysanthemum Sterling Silver Shell Bowl Spoon 6 7/8" w/Mono 22622
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Sterling silver spoon with shell bowl in the Chrysanthemum pattern by Tiffany & Co with monogram. Monogram appears to be SB The Chrysanthemum pattern, designed by Charles T. Grosje...
Sterling Silver
Rolex Vintage Spoon from Bucherer of Switzerland Souvenir Geneve Silver Plate
By Bucherer
Located in Dearborn, MI
Rolex Vintage Spoon from Bucherer of Switzerland Souvenir Geneve Silver Plate Genuine Vintage Rolex Souvenir Spoon From Bucherer of Switzerland In...
Silver Plate
Antique Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Ornamental 41 Sugar Spoon
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Georg Jensen sugar spoon. In sterling silver. Model no. Ornamental 41 Designed by Georg Jensen. Simply a great sugar spoon!...
Sterling Silver
$320Sale Price / set|20% Off
L 4.5 in
Marina J. One of A Kind Antique Sterling Silver and Baroque Pearl Spoons
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ultimate One of A Kind Antique Spoon set from Marina J. This set of six spoons features Vintage Sterling Silver and are all stamped on the bottom. Me...
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
$895
H 1.25 in W 2.25 in L 8.75 in
Antique Durgin Chrysanthemum Sterling Silver Fork & Spoon Salad Servers
By William B. Durgin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of sterling silver salad servers. By Durgin (and also bearing marks for Black, Starr & Frost). In sterling silver. With a gold wash to both the spoon bowl and fork ti...
Sterling Silver
Christofle French Sterling Silver 6 Piece Dinnerware Set
By Christofle
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage Christofle silverplate flatware set, stamped with the classic OC Christofle hallmark and FRANCE, dates to the late 1930s through the 1940s. The marks correspond to Chris...
Sterling Silver
$1,650 / set
H 2.25 in Dm 1.38 in
Set of 4 Crested Tiffany & Co Gilt Sterling Silver Salt & Pepper Shakers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine set of 4 antique gilt sterling silver salt & pepper shakers. By Tiffany & Co. Each shaker is engraved to the center with a Crest of a large bird (which appears to be a...
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
Moiseikin Silver Nephrite Lotus Dessert Plate
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
MOISEIKIN's exquisite LOTUS tea set made with genuine silver and gem quality Ural nephrite, a spiritual and energy stone. Genuine nephrite is rich in minerals and trace elements, has a caring effect on the skin, and relieves stress. The texture is delicate and smooth, releasing a pleasant mood. Jade is a symbol of status and wealth. Water-soaked in jade or nephrite stone can approach or reach the standard of high-quality mineral water within three hours. Traces of selenium released when brewing tea with a jade tea set...
Jade, Silver
Paris Souvenir Collection Silver Teaspoon with enamel Tour Eiffel
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Paris Silver Teaspoon Length 4.29in / 10.9cm Width 0.78in / 2cm Weight 11gr PRADERA is a second generation of a family run business jewelers of reference in Spain, with a large tr...
Silver
21st Century, Champagne Cover, Solid Pure Silver, Chrysler Building, Italy
By K-OVER
Located in Firenze, IT
This champagne cover/glacette belongs to the collection: works of art. The oeuvre was realized by a Florentine artist who wanted to celebrate the well-known Chrysler building. The co...
Silver