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 Blue And Red Enamel Diamond Collar Necklace

Modern Jewelry

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Blue And Red Enamel Diamond Collar Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Bezel Set Purple Amethyst Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Cabochon Turquoise And Diamond Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Double Lion Vintage Cuff Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Coral, Black Enamel and Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Black Enamel, Diamond Studded Heart and Cupid Earring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Carved Emerald, Ruby And Diamond Cocktail Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Jade Diamond Hammered Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Black Enamel, Diamonds, Door Knocker Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Summit Turquoise And Diamond Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Maltese Cross 18 Karat Yellow Gold Green Enamel Brooch Pendant

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Turquoise Flower Clip-On Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold White enamel Open Link Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Cabochon Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby And Diamond Brooch

1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Vintage Rock Crystal, Diamond And Enamel Ring, Circa 1980

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Carved Ruby Bombe Cocktail Baguette And Round Cut Diamond Ring

1970s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Open Link And Twist Links Necklace

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 109.4 Carat Emerald, Sapphire, and Diamond Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Ancient Pyramid Right Hand Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Newport Opal Rock Crystal Ladies Drop Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Cabochon Ruby Bone Bangle Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Ram Diamond Head Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & Gold Sagittarius Diamond Zodiac Pendant Pin Brooch

1970s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb White Enamel Diamond Geometric Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Airplane Lapis And Diamond Pendant Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold, Platinum Double Lion Black Enamel Sapphire Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Textured Twisted Link Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Sapphire Rock Crystal Choker Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum, 18K Yellow Gold Turquoise Emerald And Diamond Clip Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K White Gold Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Multi Gem And Diamond Collar Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Carved Coral Bombe Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold 1970's Lion Pendant Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Tiger Eye High Polished Green Enamel Cocktail Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Coral Button Doorknockers Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Monkey On A Pearl And Emerald Eyes Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Black Enamel Belt Motif Cuff Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Link 28 inches Convertible Chain Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Gold 1960's Maltese Lapis, Enamel Cross Style Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry