Find the exact serpent choker you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. 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 15 vintage or 6 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. You’re likely to find the perfect serpent choker among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic serpent choker over the years, but those made by
Ilias Lalaounis,
Yves Saint Laurent and
Alexis Bittar are often thought to be among the most beautiful. A serpent choker of any era or style can lend versatility to your look, but a version featuring
Diamond, from our inventory of 3, is particularly popular. A
round cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also
mixed cut and
oval cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a serpent choker, you’ll find that many are available today for
women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and
men.
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.