Choker Necklaces
1990s Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold-filled
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Colombian Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Choker Necklaces
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Greek Greek Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century American Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl
1990s Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Jade, Black Jade, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Platinum
20th Century Arts and Crafts Choker Necklaces
Moonstone, 14k Gold, Silver, Rose Gold
1990s Spanish Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century European Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Topaz, Sterling Silver
1980s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1970s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Spanish Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1950s Dutch Early Victorian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1980s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1970s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Bronze
1930s Anglo-Indian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold
1990s Japanese Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
20th Century Victorian Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s European Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k 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.