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.
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Modern Jewelry
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Moonstone, Rainbow Moonstone, 14k Gold
1950s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century British Modern Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Jewelry
Rubelite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Colombian Modern Jewelry
Emerald
Mid-20th Century Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold
1990s French Modern Jewelry
Gilt Metal
2010s Zambian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold
2010s African Modern Jewelry
Rubelite, Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Jewelry
Star Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
20th Century Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
1980s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Modern Jewelry
Early 2000s European Modern Jewelry
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold
20th Century Modern Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Black Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 2000s European Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century British Modern Jewelry
Gold Plate
2010s European Modern Jewelry
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Mexican Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Jewelry
Labradorite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
Mixed Metal