Choker Necklaces
1930s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Choker Necklaces
10k Gold
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1970s German Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold...
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century French Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Danish Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver, Enamel
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1940s American Edwardian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Crystal, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl
20th Century Greek Revival Choker Necklaces
Silver
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Onyx, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1920s American Edwardian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Post-War Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1940s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Brass
1990s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1990s Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Brass
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Mexican Choker Necklaces
Silver
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century North American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1970s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
22k Gold, Brass
Late 20th Century American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl, Gold Plate
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Unknown Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
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.