In 1946, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, marked the beginning of a new era in jewellery design, introducing the concept of jewellery as a wearable art. Spanning half a century of innovative, exciting design, this text provides a survey of this period, with particular emphasis on contemporary design. It covers key figures country by country, illustrating the diverse forms and media in more than 200 photographs. The first half of the book introduces the designers who shaped the progression of jewellery design between 1940 and 1980, while the second half examines in detail the studio movement at the approach of the 21st century, giving an up-to-date view of the current scene. Can jewellers today escape from economic retrenchment and feel at last totally free to explore jewellery without inhibition? Some certainly have - this book discusses, scrutinizes and celebrates their achievements.