Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century French Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond
2010s French Choker Necklaces
Other, Gilt Metal
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Early 2000s Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl, Base Metal
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gold
Late 20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
1990s French Modern Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Choker Necklaces
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.