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.
Late 20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Modern Necklaces
Tourmaline, Gold, 9k 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, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Pink Diamond, Platinum
1990s Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Necklaces
Rock Crystal
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k 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
Diamond, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 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 Necklaces
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Italian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 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
Tourmaline, 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 Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern Necklaces
Base Metal
1990s Malagasy Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Rubelite, Tourmaline, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
2010s European Modern Necklaces
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
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s North American Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
1980s German Vintage Modern Necklaces
Gold Plate
2010s American Modern Necklaces
14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s European Modern Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k 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, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s British Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver, Enamel
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s German Vintage Modern Necklaces
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, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k 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
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Necklaces
2010s French Modern Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Spinel, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s American Vintage Modern Necklaces
