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.

Gemstone: Citrine

Style: Modern

10k Gold Cushion 12x10 mm Rectangle Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

Modern Jewelry

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Cushion 12x10 mm Rectangle Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Multiple Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Round Gemstone 3.5mm Round Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Round Gemstone 5 mm Round Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Round Gemstone 3.5mm Round Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry

Diamond Citrine 18 Karat Yellow Gold Eternity Wedding Band Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Oval Gemstone 9x7 mm Oval Cut Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Marquise 8x4 mm Marquise Cut Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Princess Cut 5x5 mm Princess Cut Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Round Gemstone 5 mm Round Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

20th Century American Modern Jewelry

David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Citrine Clip on Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Trillion Gemstone 6 mm Trillion Gemstone Engagement Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14K Gold 10x7 mm. Pear Gemstone Earrings Dangle Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Oval Gemstone 5.2x7 mm Oval Gemstone Ring Oval Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Octagon 7x5 mm Octagon Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Multiple Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Round Gemstone 5 mm Round Shaped Gemstone Ring Gemstone Stacking Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Cushion 12x10 mm Rectangle Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Princess Cut 5x5 mm Princess Cut Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Heart Gemstone 5x5 mm Heart Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Round Gemstone 8x8 mm Round Gemstone Ring Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Round Gemstone 8x8 mm Round Gemstone Ring Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Round Gemstone 2.5 mm Round Gemstone Ring Stackable Ring

2010s Indian Modern Jewelry

14 Karat Gold Yellow Citrine Ring / Engagement Ring / November Birthstone Band

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Round Gemstone 2.5 mm Round Gemstone Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Oval Gemstone 7x5 mm Oval Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Multiple Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Oval Gemstone 5.2x7 mm Oval Gemstone Ring Oval Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Pear Gemstone 7x5 mm Pear Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Pear Gemstone 7x5 mm Pear Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Oval 9x7 mm Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring Stackable Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Marquise 8x4 mm Marquise Cut Gemstone Ring Birthstone Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Jewelry

Brilliant Deep Golden Citrine Gemstone 8.00 Carats Citrine Bracelets Citrine Gem

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14k Gold Oval Gemstone 7x5 mm Oval Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

14K Gold Oval Shaped Gemstone 9x7 mm Earrings Dangle Earrings Gemstone Options

Mid-20th Century American Modern Jewelry

Three Birds on a Branch Pendant Vintage 14k Yellow Gold Amethyst Opal Jewelry

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold 4 mm Solitaire Gemstone Necklace Birthstone Necklace Gemstone Options

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

18k Gold Evil Eye Gemstone Earrings Birthstone Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry

10k Gold Oval Gemstone 8x6 mm Oval Cut Gemstone Ring Gemstone Engagement Ring

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Jewelry