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 Crossover Leopard Ring

Modern Jewelry

1960s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb Crossover Leopard Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold 11.75cts Diamond Wing Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Carnelian and Diamond Clip Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Oval White Enamel Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum 18.92 Cts Diamond Flower Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold 2.20cts Diamond Chevron Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Multi Color Gemstone and Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum Green Emerald and Diamond Flexible Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Ornate Crossover Diamond Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Important Vintage Maltese Crosee White Enamel Pin/Pendant Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Link Black Enamel Diamond Chain Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Ruby, Diamond and Lacquer Pendant Necklace on Long Chain

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Green Emerald Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold 1970's Multicolor Gemstone Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18k Yellow Gold Amethyst, Diamond and Emerald Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Black Enamel Seashell Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18k Yellow Gold Twisted Woven Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Round Disks with Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Coral, Black Enamel and Diamond Bombe Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18k Yellow Gold Black Enamel Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold White Enamel Onion Dome Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Coral and Diamond 1960's Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Large Topaz and Diamond Pendant on a Black Enamel Link Necklace

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Jumbo Shrimp Clip-On Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Vreeland Diamond Zebra Black & White Enamel Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18K Gold Checkerboard Green, Red Enamel Diamond Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Enamel and Diamond Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Crescent Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Black Enamel & Diamonds Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Lion Head Platinum and 18 Karat Gold 12 One Line Black Enamel Head Mo

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18 Karat Gold South Sea Cultured Pearl Diamond and Ruby Earrings

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18 Karat Yellow Gold Rock Crystal Lion Brooch Pendant

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Amethyst Multi Strand Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Interlocking Crecent Hammered Brooch

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Yellow Gold Diamond, Ruby and Turquoise Cuff Bracelet

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18k Yellow Gold Purple Amethyst Rhombus Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Rock Crystal Platinum and 18 Karat Gold Marquise Cut Carved Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Clip Earrings

1970s American Vintage Modern Jewelry

David Webb White Enamel Diamond Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry