Modern Drop Earrings
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 Modern Drop Earrings
Tourmaline, Sterling Silver
1990s French Modern Drop Earrings
1980s Vintage Modern Drop Earrings
Hematite, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Peridot, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Earrings
14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Drop Earrings
Enamel, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Garnet, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Drop Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Topaz, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Modern Drop Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Platinum
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Pearl, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Ro...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
About Angara:
At Angara, every piece of jewellery is a handcrafted expression of love and individuality. We design with intention—using vivid coloured gemstones and ethically...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Drop Earrings
Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Opal, Tsavorite, Platinum
1970s American Vintage Modern Drop Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Quartz, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dominican Modern Drop Earrings
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
2010s British Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Opal, Zircon, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Modern Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s French Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Opal, Tourmaline, Blue Zircon, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Topaz, Tourmaline, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings
Agate, Crystal, Geode, Druzy, Base Metal, Brass
2010s Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Amber, Diamond, Titanium
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
2010s Dominican Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire , Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings
Crystal
2010s Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s American Vintage Modern Drop Earrings
1960s Vintage Modern Drop Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Quartz, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Amber, Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Gold
