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 Yurman

Style: Modern

David Yurman Necklace Sterling 29.5" Designer Box Chain Style

Modern Jewelry

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Necklace Sterling 29.5" Designer Box Chain Style

2010s Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Turquoise Lariat Estate Necklace

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Cable Collectibles 18 Karat Yellow Gold & Diamonds Band Stack Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold Solari Lapis Luzuli Sphere Hoop Drop Earrings

Late 20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Cable Classic Gold Buckle Bracelet with Emeralds

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Men's 18K Yellow Gold 3.4 mm Box Chain Necklace 26" Long

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Men's 18K Yellow Gold 3mm Open Station Box Chain Necklace 26" Long

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18k Yellow Gold Multi Cable Chain Necklace

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 1.62 ct Signature Cushion Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Sterling Silver Albion Diamond & Mother of Pearl Enhancer Necklace

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

Estate Rare David Yurman Bracelet Heavy Multi-Chain 18k Yellow Gold Tiger's Eye

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Signed Bypass Sterling and 18k Yellow Gold Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Signed Bangle 18k Yellow Gold and Sterling Braided Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Crossover Pendant Necklace Sterling Silver with Diamonds, 26mm

Late 20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Diamond Mother of Pearl Silver Cable Ring

Late 20th Century Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Onyx 'Shrimp' Cable Lever-Back Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 0.50 Carats Total Round Diamond Crossover Ring in Sterling Silver

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Faceted White Agate Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring

1990s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Three Row Diamonds and Yellow Gold Choker

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Petite Albion Sterling Silver Blue Topaz & Natural Diamond Ring

Late 20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18K Gold and Diamond Choker Necklace with Pave Set Diamond Center

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Pave 1.14 Carat Wheaton Cocktail Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Classic Cable Bracelet Sterling Silver Blue Topaz Natural Diamonds

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Pave Chain Link Diamond Bracelet in 18 Karat White Gold

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18k Yellow Gold Heart Cable Pendant Necklace

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

Authentic David Yurman 18kt Gold & Silver Link Necklace 12387

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Gold Multi Chain Necklace in 18 Karat Yellow Gold 15.5" RARE

Late 20th Century North American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Quatrefoil Collection Pair of Cuff Daimond Bracelets

Mid-20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Double Strand Pearl Necklace Albion Diamond Quartz Clasp 19"

2010s American Modern Jewelry

Authentic David Yurman Lantana Briolette Citrine Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry

14TT Classic Double Cable Diamond Pave X Cuff Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold Four Row Crossover Diamond Cuff Bangle Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Sterling Silver 14K Yellow Gold Citrine 5mm Cable Bangle Bracelet

2010s American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold "X" Double Cable Flexible Wire Choker Necklace

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Sterling Silver 14K Yellow Gold Garnets 5mm Cable Bangle Bracelet

1990s Modern Jewelry

1990s David Yurman 18k Yellow Gold Name Plate Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

18K Yellow Gold Diamond Three X Crossover David Yurman Cable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman Confetti 18K Yellow Gold and Diamond Five Row Cuff Bracelet

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold Mobile Circle Cable Drop Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry