Modern Wrist Watches

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: Cartier

Style: Modern

Cartier 18K White Gold 28mm Panthere 1925 2323 Ladies Watch

Modern Wrist Watches

20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 18K White Gold 28mm Panthere 1925 2323 Ladies Watch

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Must de Cartier Tank Gold-Plated Silver Gilt Lapis Blue Dial Manual Ladies Watch

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Panthere De Cartier Watch in 18k Yellow Gold with Custom Diamonds

1990s French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Diabolo Diamond 18KT Yellow Gold Quartz Watch, 31mm

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ballon Bleu 36mm Reference 3284

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ronde Solo 29MM Stainless Steel Women's Watch W6701004 3601

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Tank Américaine 18 Karat Rose Gold Model 2504 with Double Row Diamonds

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Santos Watch Stainless Steel Quartz

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ballon Bleu 41mm

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Santos Galbée lady bicolor wristwatch in yellow gold plated & steel

20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 18K Rose Gold Captive WG600003 Ladies Diamond Watch

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Stainless Steel Centre

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Santos WSSA0029 Medium Size Stainless Steel Watch Leather Band

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Panthere Maillon Black Lacquer Diamond Ladies Watch

20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Santos Ronde Model W20028g1

20th Century Italian Modern Wrist Watches

Bvlgari Tubogas 18K Yellow Gold Tubogas 26mm Black Round Dial Watch

20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 18K White Gold Panthere De Cartier 1925 Ref. 2476 28mm Ladies Watch

20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 18K White Gold Captive 35mm Round Diamond Dial Ladies Watch

2010s French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier 765510TX Ref 3167 Tank Solo 18k Yellow Gold Men's Watch French Strap

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Panthere Jumbo One Row in Gold Two-Tone 30mm Quartz Mens' Watch, c2000's

Early 2000s French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Santos Galbee REF 1566 Stainless Steel & Gold Watch

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ballon Bleu Automatic Grey Dial Stainless Steel Diamond Watch WSBB0060

20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Panthere 18K White Gold Diamond Mini 2363 Watch

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ballon Bleu Stainless Steel Two Timezone Quartz Watch 38MM W6920011

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ballon Bleu Automatic Grey Dial Stainless Steel Mens Watch WSBB0060

20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

21 Must de Cartier Quartz 28 mm Wristwatch

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Tank Américaine with Date 18 Karat Yellow Gold Model W26035K2

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Baignoire 18 Karat Rose Gold Extra Large Skeletized Back W8000002

2010s French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Ballon Bleu 18k Rose Gold 33mm Watch REF 3003

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Santos Dumont 18 Karat Rose Gold Model W2006951

Late 20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Vintage Cartier Tonneau Dual-Time 18k Yellow Gold Large Size

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Vintage Cartier Panthère Cougar 18 Karat Yellow Gold 33mm Model 887920

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Santos Ronde 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Model 1910

20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Trinity 18K Tri Color Trinity Round Dial 27mm 1990's Diamond Watch

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Women's Automatic Octogon Santos Two-Tone Vintage Burgundy

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Delices Pink Gold Diamond -Set Bracelet Watch ref 3382

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier White Gold Tortue Mechanical Watch with Factory Diamonds 2497

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Roadster GMT XL 42mm - Vintage Men's Automatic Watch

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Cartier Roadster 44mm Men's Steel Watch White Dial Custom 12ct Diamonds Ref 3405

2010s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches