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.
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Chalcedony, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
20th Century British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Spanish Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Imperial Topaz, Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s Danish Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Greek Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Green Beryl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s French Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Indian Contemporary Jewelry
Yellow Gold, Enamel
1990s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Peridot, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Citrine, Moonstone, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
20th Century British Contemporary Jewelry
Gold
Late 20th Century British Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold
1980s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
18k Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Peridot, Tourmaline, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century French Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Quartz, Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Black Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s British Contemporary Jewelry
Hematite, 18k Gold, Enamel
1990s American Contemporary Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary Jewelry
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Agate, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1990s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold