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 American Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Coral, Onyx, Black Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Morganite, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Asian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
1990s American Modern Jewelry
Crystal, Gilt Metal
1980s American Vintage Modern Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Chrysophrase, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Modern Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century European Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yell...
2010s French Modern Jewelry
Rock Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Brass
2010s African Modern Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Zircon, Sterling Silver, Platinum, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Ruby, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1950s Unknown Vintage Modern Jewelry
1950s Dutch Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Finnish Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Swiss Vintage Modern Jewelry
Steel, Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Modern Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Ruby, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Jewelry
Ruby, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Sapphire
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Jewelry
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Thai Modern Jewelry
Silver
Early 2000s British Modern Jewelry
White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Zambian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald
1980s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Jewelry
Enamel