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 Italian Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Blue Topaz, Fluorite, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Silver
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Coral, Onyx
1960s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Spinel, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Cat’s Eye, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Israeli Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Cypriot Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Sterling Silver, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Canadian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Zircon, Zircon, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
2010s Spanish Contemporary Jewelry
Quartz, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Early 2000s English Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Contemporary Jewelry
Crystal, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, White Gold
2010s Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Contemporary Jewelry
Mandarin Garnet, Tsavorite, Tourmaline, Garnet, White Diamond, Diamond, ...
2010s Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s German Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold