Choker Necklaces
1960s Greek Greek Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
22k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, Platinum
1980s French Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Emirian Choker Necklaces
22k Gold
20th Century French Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Swiss Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1970s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s North American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1990s French Byzantine Choker Necklaces
Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
20th Century British Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Silver
1990s Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1960s Indian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1970s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Mexican Artisan Choker Necklaces
Silver, Enamel
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond
1950s American Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
1990s Dutch Modern Choker Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1970s Swiss Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1950s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Early 20th Century European Jugendstil Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Gold, Platinum, Gold
1940s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
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.