Thomas Kurilla Leopard
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Cufflinks
Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Cufflinks
Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Black Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Rhodium
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Cufflinks
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Cufflinks
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Gold, 10k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Gold, 10k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Cufflinks
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Black Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
Thomas Kurilla Leopard For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Thomas Kurilla Leopard?
A Close Look at Contemporary Jewelry
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.