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 Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Cypriot Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Rubelite, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Onyx, Quartz, Ruby, White Gold, Titanium, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, White Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Purple Sapphire,...
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Tita...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s German Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Platinum
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue S...
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, White Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Bronze
2010s Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Sterling Silver, Silver
2010s Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum, ...
1990s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Tourmaline, Tsavorite, Silver
20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver, Silver