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.
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Blue Topaz, Diamond, Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 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
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Other, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Argentine Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s French Modern Necklaces
1980s American Vintage Modern Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s Peruvian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Turquoise, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1980s American Vintage Modern Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century European Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s British Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
1970s French Vintage Modern Necklaces
Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Kunzite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Necklaces
Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Emirian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
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
2010s British Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Necklaces
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Morganite, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Bulgarian Modern Necklaces
Peridot, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Necklaces
Carnelian, Multi-gemstone, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Tiger s Eye, 1...
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Mexican Modern Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
1970s American 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, Gold
2010s Ethiopian Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Larimar, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
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
20th Century Italian Modern Necklaces
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, Emerald, Gold
2010s Greek Modern Necklaces
Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Necklaces
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Necklaces
Gold Plate
