There is a broad range of designer choker necklaces for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from
Gold,
Gold Plate and
18k Gold — can elevate any look. Our selection of items includes 39 vintage examples as well as 20 contemporary versions. Our collection, which features older pieces for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century, has proven very popular over the years. Pieces in our collection of designer choker necklaces made by
Modern jewelers — as well as those associated with
Contemporary — are very popular.
Oscar De La Renta,
AB Jewelry NYC and
Alexis Bittar each produced beautiful examples of these items that are worth considering. Lovers of these pieces agree that it’s a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 18
Crystal versions can add an especially stylish touch. A selection of
mixed cut,
round cut and
cabochon can be found today on these pages. If you’re browsing the variety of designer choker necklaces for sale, you’ll find that many are available today for
women, but there are still pieces to choose from for
men.
Prices for designer choker necklaces can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $325 and can go as high as $45,000, while designer choker necklaces, on average, fetch $925.
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.