Choker Necklaces
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Choker Necklaces
Early 20th Century French Victorian Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Aesthetic Movement Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Paraiba, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Brass
2010s Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Choker Necklaces
Gold
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
2010s Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Brass
2010s Greek Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Enamel
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Qatari Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond
1990s French Modernist Choker Necklaces
2010s European Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Israeli Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Choker Necklaces
Malachite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Emerald, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Chinese Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
2010s American Choker Necklaces
Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s French Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
1970s African Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Malachite, Jasper
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Choker Necklaces
Pearl
20th Century Italian Art Deco Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Rubelite, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Vintage Choker Necklaces
Vintage choker necklaces are elegant, alluring and stylish. Cameos, pearls, diamonds and other stones can decorate these necklaces, which come in single or multiple strands. Whether it is a statement piece or a delicate chain, these short necklaces always stand out and turn heads.
The history of the choker can be traced back thousands of years, with Sumerian examples discovered from 2600–2500 B.C. They endured as a popular form of adornment through the centuries, and during the French Revolution they took on a symbolic significance. Women wore ribbons around their throats to mark the passing of those killed by the guillotine. Soon, the plain ribbons were adorned with small cameos and other ornamentation.
European choker necklaces gained a salacious reputation in the 19th century when prostitutes were associated with black ribbons tied around the neck, such as the model in Édouard Manet’s Olympia (1863). Queen Alexandra, Princess of Wales, reversed the trend in the late 19th century by wearing a large pearl and diamond choker, reputedly to hide a scar.
Fashioned from gold, pearls and other precious stones and metals, chokers continued to be worn into the 20th century, alternately statements of wealth and rebellion. They experienced periods of revival in the 1920s, ’40s, ’70s and ’90s for both men and women.
Vintage chokers make a statement with an unmistakable air of femininity. On 1stDibs, find an alluring collection of vintage chokers today, including gold, sapphire and emerald chokers.