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
Sapphire, Tsavorite, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Asian Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Hematite, Peridot, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Topaz, Peridot, Black Pearl, Garnet, Diamond, Carnelian, Agate, St...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Burmese Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1950s Canadian Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
1950s American Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Rubelite, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary South Asian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby...
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Amazonite, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold