Modern Jewelry
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.
21st Century and Contemporary African Modern Jewelry
Garnet
1970s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
2010s Dominican Modern Jewelry
Pearl, Aquamarine, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Jewelry
Crystal, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s American Modern Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Swiss Modern Jewelry
Steel
2010s French Modern Jewelry
Early 2000s Italian Modern Jewelry
Gold Plate, Brass
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century European Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Jewelry
Moonstone, Onyx, Quartz
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
18k Gold
1960s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
2010s American Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1980s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s Russian Modern Jewelry
Citrine, Topaz, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Crystal, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold-filled, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Brazilian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Rubelite, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Jewelry
Mid-20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Jewelry
Rose Gold
2010s Australian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
1990s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Jewelry
14k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
1950s British Vintage Modern Jewelry
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Jewelry
Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Platinum
Early 2000s American Modern Jewelry
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier American Antique Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Padparadscha Sapphire , Platinum
Early 2000s Italian Modern Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1990s British Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s British Vintage Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Gold
2010s Australian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Azerbaijani Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold
1990s French Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold
1950s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
1990s British Modern Jewelry
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Jewelry
Amethyst