Surely you’ll find the exact belle epoque choker you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from
Platinum,
Gold and
18k Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 14 vintage editions and 1 modern creations to choose from as well. Making the right choice when shopping for a belle epoque choker may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 20th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. A belle epoque choker from
Black, Starr & Frost and
Marina J. — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. Take a look at a belle epoque choker featuring
Diamond from our inventory today to add the perfect touch to your look. See these pages for a
brilliant cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also
old european cut cut and
rose cut cut versions available here, too. When shopping for a belle epoque choker, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or
men today than there are for
women.
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.