Modern Beaded Necklaces
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 Austrian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Rose Gold, Palladium, 18k ...
2010s Dutch Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1990s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Moonstone, Rainbow Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
2010s Malagasy Modern Beaded Necklaces
Ruby, Mandarin Garnet, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1970s French Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Crystal, Gilt Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Citrine, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s French Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Chrysophrase, Jade
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s British Modern Beaded Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1950s Czech Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Citrine, Sapphire, Druzy, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Labradorite, Onyx
1990s Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Beaded Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s British Modern Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Malachite, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1990s British Modern Beaded Necklaces
Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Tourmaline, Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Tourmaline, Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Malachite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Turquoise
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Turquoise
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Tanzanite, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Beaded Necklaces
Citrine, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Quartz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Go...
1980s French Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Beaded Necklaces
Aquamarine, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold





