I have always been a fan of contemporary jewellery, a style of jewellery that is a little more vocal about the statement it makes than
fine jewellery, but doesn’t yell so loudly that it takes over an outfit.
Contemporary jewellery appears to have a personality of its own and often gives the impression of artwork, rather than simply a piece of
jewellery.
It also strongly reflects the personality of the person wearing it.
Most often, I see this contemporary jewellery worn by fashion lovers who prefer a minimalist wardrobe, yet are keen on pairing that with a
piece of jewellery that sings to another side of their personality.
Just like the clothes we dress in, our jewellery speaks of our personality, our style. Whether you are a minimalist, one for statement
jewellery, or a fan of classic design, there is no doubt a particular style that speaks to you, and that correlates with the clothes in your
wardrobe.
I’m a minimalist at heart when it comes to my wardrobe, and it may seem strange to prefer contemporary jewellery when it generally
does make a more bold appearance.
But what I enjoy most about these modern jewellery brands is that they make such great company for a chic minimalist outfit, rather than
competing with it for attention.
And there is no need to be concerned about this sort of statement jewellery losing its appeal to you. The statement it makes, as I mentioned
earlier, is not so vocal that it is likely to lose its place in your styling.
Like all fashion, if you choose the pieces that are what your personality and your wardrobe appreciate, then you are bound to be wearing it
still in years to come.
The contemporary jewellery I have in my own jewellery box includes pieces I have been wearing for years, and I see no end date to their
place in my style.
Also, many of the brands I have included here are using recycled materials to create their pieces, and approaching many elements of
design and manufacturing with a focus on more sustainable fashion.
Here are 27 of my favourite brands of contemporary jewellery, for now and for years to come.
Dinosaur Designs is an Australian design studio, globally renowned for their handmade resin and metal, homewares and jewellery. Established in 1985, Dinosaur Designs celebrates 40 years of the studio.
Juju Vera is a unique point of view, where true elegance reflects an independent mind. Each collection offers a blend of fine jewelry, precious stones, mixed metals, and diverse materials for an eclectic edit, inviting you to express yourself with confidence and strength.
Agmes is a New York City–based jewelry brand, founded in 2016 by Morgan Lang, creating handcrafted pieces from recycled precious metals. Combining sculptural forms with thoughtful design and artisan craftsmanship, Agmes creates pieces that are at once distinctive and enduring.
Working primarily from recycled materials, the brand's signature pieces gently roll against the tide of convention - using sculptural forms that weave, loop, twist, flow, enfold and expand to explore broader questions about the human condition and trade blows with history, politics and the language of art.
Le Sundial captures timeless beauty, with sensuous lines, a careful sense of proportion, and quiet detailing. The impeccable artistry of the designs and their simplicity create a discrete signature that transcends seasons and trends.
Nina Gordon is a contemporary jewellery label that creates luxury goods that reflect permanence. With a background in metalwork and hands-on jewellery making, Nina brings a depth of craft rare in contemporary jewellery, creating pieces defined by precision, clarity, and restraint—designed to be worn daily and collected over time.
Design as the expression that bridges forms and techniques sits at the heart of Monica’s artistic process. Fueled by innovation and experimentation, soul and precision, her creations are reminiscent of her Caribbean memories and deeply influenced by the minimalistic lines of her modern, Latin American heritage.
Mounser focuses on a sculptural approach to design with inspiration rooted in both nature and modernist art. Amanda’s collections create abstract mementos that reflect the essence of the natural world and its simple beauty through a wistful juxtaposition of color, material and shape.
Faris is a jewelry line that distills complexity into a wearable statement. Creating pieces with both a voice that speaks to the wearer's personality, but a longevity that will see it remaining vocal for decades.
Bagatiba is a jewelry line specializing in timeless hand-crafted essentials. They have evolved into a leading name in the jewelry industry with its Closed-Loop Upcycling & Sustainability initiatives along with dynamic ethics defining the brands mission to be an innovator on all forefronts.
Jan Logan is founded on a tradition of excellence, modernity, and artistic innovation. Each piece is conceived with the belief that jewellery is a vessel for personal narratives – treasured in the present and passed down through generations.
By Nye is a contemporary Australian jewellery label creating hand-made luxury pieces. Nye De Marchi draws on her visual-arts background and love of natural landscapes to design pieces that are both conceptual and timeless. All materials are locally and sustainably sourced with an attention to detail.
Started in 1996, Vietnamese-born designer Chan Luu founded the brand as a passion project after a long career in retail. Throughout its history, Chan has championed artisan craftsmanship and the support of fair labor practices, and her efforts have been recognized by the United Nations.
Jasmin Sparrow is a catalogue of elevated adornments that celebrate precious moments and acknowledge devotion. Investigating a fascination with natural elements and their dynamics, each collection is inspired by the fluid and organic assets from the surrounding world, and made to be layered upon one another.
It all began in 2016, when Brie Leon shifted course to focus on offering a tight selection of vintage inspired jewellery and handmade pieces upcycled by founder Janine Zafra. As this small online boutique quickly grew into its new identity, Brie Leon matured into its own brand. Based in Sydney Australia, it’s there they design, create and craft handmade jewellery pieces.
Founded in Stockholm in 2012 by Paulina Liffner von Sydow, the brand is shaped by her artistic eye and dedication to creating objects of enduring beauty. Each piece reflects a balance between refined silhouettes and eclectic detail — capturing both restraint and individuality in equal measure.
Born in Paris in 2015, Mara Paris is the vision of architect Ayça Özbank Taskan and designer Gökçe Taskan. It reimagines adornment as both art and identity. Blending architectural intent with artistic expression, the brand speaks to those who see jewellery as a reflection of self.
Toteme is a fashion house rooted in Swedish sensibilities, modern aspirations and the notion of style. Creating timeless pieces, the jewellery speaks with a clear voice representing a direct and decisive way of dressing that will remain valid and valuable through generations.
The inspiration for Jennifer’s designs has always been the art of sculpting an accessory from the highest quality fabrics and embellishments. With a focus on sustainabilty they source all materials locally and create only what they need.
With a vision of creating pieces that would travel everywhere with the people who bought them, the jewellery was meant
to represent something larger. Jewellery with specific, personalised significance—whether a symbolic bond, a story, a milestone,
or a simple reminder of what’s actually important.
Established in 2015, Reliquia Jewellery is the paraphernalia of personal style: grounding accessories that speak volumes of who you are and how you express yourself. With endless opportunities, there’s a realm of meaning, creativity and selfhood to discover.
Pearl Octopuss.y is a bold and playful brand, fueled by a genuine love of creation. A core value of versatility, with a focus on statement pieces that can be worn in multiple ways. With an aim to inspire a more conscious approach to dressing up, showing how styling and accessories can elevate any basic wardrobe.
Founded in late 2021, Lié Studio is a Copenhagen-based brand created by twin sisters Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard. With years of experience in the fashion industry, the sisters saw a need for accessories that would cater to the busy woman's everyday uniform, adding a timeless yet elevated touch to any outfit.
Modern Weaving is a ready-to-wear and accessories brand crafting pieces using the finest materials in the most state-of-the-art mills across Italy and Japan, with a commitment to natural and renewable fibers central to their design process.
Established in 2015 by siblings Paola and Humbert Sasplugas following Paola’s childhood passion for jewelry, PDPAOLA has grown from a
digitally native brand to a brand with a global presence.
Hernán Herdez is a seasonless jewelry line by Puerto Rican designer and art director Melissa Hernández. It’s a project that reimagines classic jewelry forms for a contemporary context. To reduce environmental impact, all pieces are made with recycled metals.
F+H Studios was established in 2014, designed by Sharona Harris in Byron Bay. Creating modern jewellery influenced by music sub-cultures of the 80s and 90s. Designs are made by craftsmen certified by the Global Responsible Jewellery Council to ensure the materials, supply chains and methods used are ethically focused.
If you’re a regular visitor to my blog or follow me on Instagram, you may know that my focus is on
making our wardrobes more sustainable, more ethical. I share ideas and brands to support both.
But you may also notice that some of the pieces I share in my blog, don’t rank well when it comes to their sustainability. I do this
because I recognise that for some people it’s very hard to buy more expensive pieces of clothing that have a better ranking.
So when I share fashion that's not where it should be in terms of quality, sustainability, and ethics, I only share pieces that
are minimalist in style and not based on short-term trends. Therefore, these pieces will continue to serve well in your wardrobe.
This isn’t as good as buying sustainable fashion, but it’s certainly better than heading for on-trend items that quickly stop
appealing to you, and potentially end up as waste.
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