Modern Cocktail Rings
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.
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Peridot, Topaz, Blue Topaz, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Quartz, Tourmaline, Indicolite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White 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 Cocktail Rings
Blue Topaz, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
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 Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Diamond, Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Jade, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
1960s Unknown Vintage Modern Cocktail Rings
Jade, Green Sapphire, 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 Cocktail Rings
Morganite, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Lebanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, 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 Cocktail Rings
Opal, Diamond, Gold
1970s Vintage Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Vintage Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Emirian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s German Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Gold...
2010s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Kunzite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
1970s European Vintage Modern Cocktail Rings
Tiger s Eye, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Sapphire, 9k Gold, White Gold
1980s Brazilian Vintage Modern Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Paraiba, Tourmaline, Diamond, Platinum
1990s Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Early 2000s Turkish Modern Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Opal, Peridot, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Opal, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Agate, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold
