Choker Necklaces
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1930s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1940s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s Swiss Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Asian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Choker Necklaces
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1990s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Early 20th Century European Victorian Choker Necklaces
Silver
20th Century American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Topaz, Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
1990s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century American Artist Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Oriental Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1920s Tibetan Anglo-Indian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Silver
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s German Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
White Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Danish Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century European Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Chrysophrase, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Gold
1990s Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century North American Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century French Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
24k 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.