Choker Necklaces
1960s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century American Art Deco Choker Necklaces
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
22k Gold, Brass
2010s American Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces
Other, Other
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Brass, Mixed Metal
2010s Dutch Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Jasper, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Choker Necklaces
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary British Choker Necklaces
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Sterling Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Choker Necklaces
Quartz, Other, Mixed Metal
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Silver
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Sterling Silver
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
2010s French Modern Choker Necklaces
Moonstone, Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil, Silver
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
24k Gold, Brass
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Sterling Silver
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
2010s African Artisan Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Garnet, Tourmaline, Topaz, Peridot, Sterling Silver, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Choker Necklaces
1960s European Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
2010s North American Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Choker Necklaces
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
Brass, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
1970s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1970s Italian Classical Roman Vintage Choker Necklaces
Malachite, Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
2010s Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl
Early 2000s French Choker Necklaces
1960s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Italian Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Mexican Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
Marcasite, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Choker Necklaces
Brass
1950s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Brass, Copper, Enamel
1970s European Romantic Vintage Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
24k Gold, Brass
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
2010s Mexican Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl
Early 2000s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Brass
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.