Modern Drop Earrings

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.

Style: Modern

Meghna Jewels Flame Black Onyx Diamond Earrings

Modern Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Meghna Jewels Flame Black Onyx Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Moonstone 18 Karat Gold Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Meghna Jewels Claw Double Drop Marquise Black Onyx Diamonds Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Multi Gemstone 18 Karat Gold Linear Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Meghna Jewels Interlocking Claw 6.22 Black White Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Drop Earrings

5.72 Cts Blue Sapphire and Diamond Bat Earrings

2010s American Modern Drop Earrings

Marquise Diamond 14K (or 18k upon request) Yellow Gold Stud Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Star Moon Diamond Drop Earrings

2010s Indian Modern Drop Earrings

Citrine Tsavorite Earring in 14karart Yellow Gold Hand-craft Earring

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Meghna Jewels Claw Ruby Black Onyx Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Diamond Chain Drop Earrings

20th Century Italian Modern Drop Earrings

Curata Italian 14K Yellow Gold Paperclip, Circle and Clover Long Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

68.6 Carat Blue Sapphire Diamond Pearl 18 Karat White Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Multi Gemstone Kaleidoscope Earrings Amethyst Citrine Garnet

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Bloom 18 Karat Gold Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Multi Gemstone 14 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Pearl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Hexagon Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

17.85 Carat Mother of Pearl Emerald Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Emerald Mother of Pearl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Slice Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Diamond Baguette 18 Karat Gold Chain Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Fancy Diamond 18 Karat Gold Linear Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Multi Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Sphere Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Emerald Mother of Pearl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Emerald Pearl Diamond 14 Karat Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Champagne Diamond Meghna Jewels Bora Bora Earrings

2010s Indian Modern Drop Earrings

Lemon Quartz, Tsavorite Diamond Ring, Earring Set in 14K Yellow Gold

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Antique Style 3.27 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Blue Sapphire Diamond Raindrop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Turquoise Diamond Meghna Jewels Bora Bora Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Blue Sapphire Diamonds Meghna Jewels Claw Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

White Enamel Diamond 14 Karat Rose Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Diamond Green Onyx Marquise Meghna Jewels Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Citrine Diamond Meghna Jewels Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Meghna Jewels Claw Single Drop Earrings Ruby Diamonds

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Rainbow Moonstone Ruby Diamond Meghna Jewels Flame Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

9.26 Carat Emerald Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

5.41 Carat Multi Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Tiered Drop Earrings

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Drop Earrings