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.
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Black Diamond, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s French Contemporary Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Rainbow Moonstone, Moonstone, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline, Gold
2010s European Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Jewelry
Garnet, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Labradorite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Quartz, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Stainless Steel
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Citrine, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Fire Opal, Yellow Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Black Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Purple Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire...
1990s Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow...
2010s Thai Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Zircon, Blue Zircon, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Beryl, White Gold, 18k ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Topaz, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Taiwanese Contemporary Jewelry
Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Tourmaline, Platinum
2010s Turkish Contemporary Jewelry
14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Nigerian Contemporary Jewelry
Tourmaline
2010s Swiss Contemporary Jewelry
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Contemporary Jewelry
Amethyst, Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Contemporary Jewelry
Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel