Modern 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 Turkish Modern Earrings
Tanzanite, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Silver
20th Century Danish Modern Earrings
Garnet, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Modern Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Earrings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Modern Earrings
Aquamarine, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 2000s Japanese Modern Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Earrings
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White 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 Earrings
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s French Modern Earrings
Rock Crystal
2010s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s French Vintage Modern Earrings
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Pearl, Silver
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 Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Morganite, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 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 Earrings
Aquamarine, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Peridot, 14k Gold
1950s British Vintage Modern Earrings
Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Amethyst, Emerald, Garnet, Sapphire, Tanzanite, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Tanzanite, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
20th Century Italian Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Taiwanese Modern Earrings
Coral, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Garnet, Silver, Sterling Silver
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 Earrings
Turquoise, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Garnet, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
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 Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Russian Modern Earrings
Amethyst, Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Moonstone, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White 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 Earrings
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Amethyst, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold
