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.
Late 20th Century Modern Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 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 Belgian Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 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 Earrings
Garnet, 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
Garnet, Diamond, Rhodolite, 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
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Earrings
White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Emirian Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Earrings
14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Opal, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Earrings
Zircon, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s British Modern Earrings
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s North American Vintage Modern Earrings
Mixed Metal
2010s Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Earrings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Earrings
Coral
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Earrings
Amber, Diamond, Titanium
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
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Modern Earrings
Crystal, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Pearl, Topaz, Gold Plate, Silver
1960s Greek Vintage Modern Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Earrings
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Earrings
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Modern Earrings
Apatite, Gold, 22k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Modern Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Earrings
Diamond, 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
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Earrings
Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
