Modern 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.
2010s Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Greek Modern Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k 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 Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Topaz, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Crystal, Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl
2010s Japanese Modern Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Tanzanite, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose 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 Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Tourmaline, Paraiba, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Ye...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
2010s Ethiopian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Larimar, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Necklaces
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Necklaces
Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Jade, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Necklaces
Amethyst, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Modern Necklaces
14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Necklaces
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 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 Necklaces
Diamond, Morganite, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Multi-gemstone
2010s Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
Aquamarine, 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 Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum





