You are likely to find exactly the choker rigid you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from
Gold,
18k Gold and
Gilt Metal — can elevate any look. Find an antique version now, or shop for 63 vintage or 9 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Finding the perfect choker rigid may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 20th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. A choker rigid from
Christian Lacroix,
Yves Saint Laurent and
Edouard Rambaud — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. A choker rigid can make for a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 6
Diamond versions can add an especially stylish touch. When shopping for a choker rigid, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or
men today than there are for
women.
Prices for a choker rigid can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $250 and can go as high as $13,609, while this accessory, on average, fetches $947.
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.