Modern Jewelry

MODERN STYLE

Rooted in centuries of history of adornment dating back to the ancient world, modern jewelry reimagines traditional techniques, forms and materials for expressive new pieces. As opposed to contemporary jewelry, which responds to the moment in which it was created, modern jewelry often describes designs from the 20th to 21st centuries that reflect movements and trends in visual culture.

Modern jewelry emerged from the 19th-century shift away from jewelry indicating rank or social status. The Industrial Revolution allowed machine-made jewelry using electric gold plating, metal alloys and imitation stones, making beautiful jewelry widely accessible. Although mass production deemphasized the materials of the jewelry, the vision of the designer remained important, something that would be furthered in the 1960s with what’s known as the “critique of preciousness.”

A design fair called the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes” brought global attention to the Art Deco style in 1925 and gathered a mix of jewelry artists alongside master jewelers like Van Cleef & Arpels, Mauboussin and Boucheron. Art Deco designs from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels unconventionally mixed gemstones like placing rock crystals next to diamonds while borrowing motifs from eclectic sources including Asian lacquer and Persian carpets. Among Cartier’s foremost design preoccupations at the time were high-contrast color combinations and crisp, geometric forms and patterns. In the early 20th century, modernist jewelers like Margaret De Patta and artists such as Alexander Calder — who is better known for his kinetic sculptures than his provocative jewelry — explored sculptural metalwork in which geometric shapes and lines were preferred over elaborate ornamentation.

Many of the innovations in modern jewelry were propelled by women designers such as Wendy Ramshaw, who used paper to craft her accessories in the 1960s. During the 1970s, Elsa Peretti created day-to-night pieces for Tiffany & Co. while designers like Lea Stein experimented with layering plastic, a material that had been employed in jewelry since the mid-19th century and had expanded into Bakelite, acrylics and other unique materials.

Find a collection of modern watches, bracelets, engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry on 1stDibs.

Creator: David Rosenberg

Style: Modern

David Rosenberg 2.08 Carat Cushion Cut Fancy Brown Pink GIA Diamond Drop Earring

Modern Jewelry

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 2.08 Carat Cushion Cut Fancy Brown Pink GIA Diamond Drop Earring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 4.16ct Cushion Fancy Intense Blue Green GIA Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 2.05 Carat Cushion Fancy Intense Orange GIA Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 2.35 Carat Pink & Green GIA Flower Diamond Stud Earring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 5.18 Carat Oval Shape D/SI2 GIA Diamond Engagement Wedding Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 2.61 Carat Round Fancy Vivid Yellow GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 27.39 Carat Pear Shape Fancy Yellow GIA Diamond Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 12.73 Carat Round Brilliant GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 42.75 Carat Tw Radiant Fancy Yellow Diamond GIA Tennis Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 13.34 Carat Pear Shape GIA 3 Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 7.09 Carat Heart Shape F VS2 GIA 3 Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 7.04 Carat Pear Shape Platinum GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 5.01 Carat Radiant Cut F SI1 GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 16.72 Ct D Flawless GIA Pear Round & Heart Shape Diamond Earring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 7.77 Total Carats Emerald Cut GIA Diamond Eternity Wedding Band

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 13.16 Total Carats Asscher Cut GIA Diamond Eternity Wedding Band

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 12.21 Carat Radiant Cut Fancy Yellow GIA Diamond Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 10.46 Carats Round GIA Diamond Studs

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 1.00 Carat Heart Shape Fancy Green Yellow GIA Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 2.07 Carat Radiant Fancy Green Yellow GIA Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 11.31 Total Carats Radiant Cut GIA Diamond Eternity Wedding Band

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 12.15ct Radiant Fancy Intense Yellow VS1 GIA Diamond Engagement

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 5.02 Carat Cushion Fancy Intense Green Yellow GIA Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 5.01 Carat Emerald Cut G VS1 GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 5.42 Total Carats Round F/VS2 Triple Excellent GIA Diamond Studs

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 6.52 Carat Total Weight Pear Shape GIA by Pass Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 7.81 Carat Radiant Fancy Yellow VS1 GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 10.04 Carat Cushion Shape GIA Drop Dangle Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 10.07 Carat Emerald Cut GIA Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 11.11 Carat Total Weight Heart Shape GIA by Pass Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 26.74 Carat TW D-G VVS1-VS2 Radiant GIA Diamond Tennis Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 14.05 Carat Radiant Cut Yellow GIA Diamond Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 8.37 Carat Emerald Cut GIA Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 6.07 Carat Pear Shape GIA Drop Dangle Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 30.36 Carat Heart Shape Green Zambian Emerald Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 15.71 Carat Cushion GIA 3 Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 6.46 Carat Pear & Oval Shape 3 Tier GIA Diamond Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 24.66 Carat Tw White Asscher Cut Gia Diamond Tennis Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Rosenberg 8.07 Carat Elongated Cushion Shape GIA Diamond Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry