On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate wire choker necklace for your needs in our varied inventory. Frequently made of
Gold,
18k Gold and
Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. You can easily find a 37 antique edition and 22 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect wire choker necklace 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. A wire choker necklace from
Christian Dior,
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. and
Thierry Mugler — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. A wire choker necklace of any era or style can lend versatility to your look, but a version featuring
Diamond, from our inventory of 7, is particularly popular. Today, if you’re looking for a
mixed cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes
round cut and
brilliant cut alternatives. Finding a wire choker necklace for sale for
women should be easy, but there are 11 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as
men, too.
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.