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 Webb

Style: Modern

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Carnelian Earrings

Modern Jewelry

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Carnelian Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Black Enamel Diamond 18 Karat Gold Shrimp Huggie Clip-On Earrings

1990s American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Amethyst Green Enamel Diamond Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18 Karat White Gold Tiger Pendant Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold White Enamel Owl Diamond And Green Emerald Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb White Diamond Ruby Enamel Gold Platinum Zebra Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Tadpole Platinum and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Green Enamel Frog Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum Convertible Diamond Flower Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Panther Pin Brooch Pendant Charm

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Lacquered Large Clip-On Button Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18K Yellow Gold Zebra White Enamel Cufflinks Jewelry Set

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Tiger Platinum and 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Chrysoprave Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb circa 1950 Ceramic Flower Diamonds, Sapphires Vintage Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bombe Black Enamel Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Hammered 18 Karat Quartz Clip-On Earrings

Mid-20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum 20.17 Carat Chandelier Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 1960's Impressive 25 Carat Diamond Cluster Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb circa 1960 Green Emeralds, Diamonds Vintage Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum 19 Carat Round Diamond Flower Brooch

1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Woven Gold Band Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Textured, Scalloped Link Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Leopard 18 Karat Yellow Gold Spotted Bangle Diamond Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb White Enamel Vintage Studded Snail 0.10 Carat Diamond Brooch Pin

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Sculpted Set with Round Diamonds Earrings

1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Vintage Collection Diamond Pearl Gold Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Green and Blue Checkerboard Enamel Clip-On Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18 Karat Yellow Gold Black Enamel Gold Spotted Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb White Unicorn 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel, Diamonds, Rubies Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Baraque Pearl and Diamond Collar Necklace

1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Cuff Links Tuxedo Studs

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Double Clip Diamond Convertible Vintage Brooch

1970s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Rock Crystal and Diamond Clip-On Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18 Karat Yellow Gold White Coral Sapphire Ruby, Emerald Earrings

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold and Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18 Karat Gold Original Black Enamel and Diamond Earrings

1970s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Gold Ruby Emerald Sapphire Cabochon Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Bombe Ladies Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Rock Crystal Elephant Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb circa 1970 Tiger White and Gold Enamel Vintage Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry