William Lowe
1990s American Contemporary Dome Rings
Citrine, Yellow Gold, Enamel
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Vintage 1970s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Diamond, 22k Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, 22k Gold
Vintage 1980s Solitaire Rings
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Dome Rings
Star Ruby, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Dome Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
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1990s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Hematite, Yellow Gold, Enamel
A Close Look at Contemporary Jewelry
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
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