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.
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Chalcedony, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Sapphi...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gol...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Gold...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pe...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, Pearl, Black Pearl, ...
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold,...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, 18k ...
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s German Contemporary Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, White...
Early 2000s British Contemporary Jewelry
Aquamarine, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 1...
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gol...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold, Ye...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold...
Late 20th Century Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Amber, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Peridot, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl,...
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platin...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Agate, Coral, Cultured Pearl, Rock Crystal, Tiger's Eye, Topaz, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Topaz, Diamond, Pearl, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pe...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Cultured Pearl, Topaz, Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Jewelry
Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Topaz, Blue Topa...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamon...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, Black Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Go...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold...
Early 2000s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Rubelite, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gol...
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 2000s British Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Cultured Pearl, P...
Early 2000s Contemporary Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18...
2010s British Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold