Modern Jewelry
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 Italian Modern Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Chinese Modern Jewelry
Jade, 14k Gold
20th Century Mexican Modern Jewelry
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Tourmaline, Paraiba, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Tourmaline, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Opal, Sapphire, Emerald, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
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 Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Opal, 14k Gold
20th Century French Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
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 Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
1990s French Modern Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
1950s British Vintage Modern Jewelry
Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Tanzanite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
1960s English Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
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 Jewelry
Blue Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s American Modern Jewelry
Sterling Silver
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 Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century English Modern Jewelry
Garnet, 10k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Japanese Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Platinum
2010s Russian Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Modern Jewelry
18k Gold
Late 20th Century Portuguese Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
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 Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Sapphire, Tsavorite, Citrine, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Italian Modern Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Jewelry
Garnet, Mandarin Garnet, Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold
