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
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Jewelry
Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Blue Topaz, Topa...
1980s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl
20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Jade, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, Black Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Go...
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Jewelry
Black Pearl, Oriental Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater ...
Early 2000s Greek Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Cultured Pearl, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, South Sea Pearl
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s British Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Coral, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Black Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Di...
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea P...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold...
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold