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 Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Spinel, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Tanzanite, Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k 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 American Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White...
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rho...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s German Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Tanzanite, Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Citrine, South Sea Pearl, Rubelite, 18k ...
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
2010s German Contemporary Jewelry
Star Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue S...
Late 20th Century Spanish Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Chrysophrase, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k G...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Titanium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s North American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Tourmaline, Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Beryl, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
2010s Portuguese Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Rubelite, Pink Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tourmaline, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Pearl, 18k Gold
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 Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Opal, 18k Gold