Choker Necklaces
1960s Australian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Quartz, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century North American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Rhodium
1970s European Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
Early 20th Century Edwardian Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
1990s French Art Deco Choker Necklaces
1980s North American Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s French Modernist Choker Necklaces
1990s Greek Classical Greek Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Post-War Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century North American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Silver
Late 20th Century North American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Chinese Modern Choker Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1980s Swedish Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1970s American Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
1940s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Mexican Modernist Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate, Mixed Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Finnish Vintage Choker Necklaces
Moonstone, Silver
1920s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Early 20th Century European Choker Necklaces
Gold
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Silver
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
20th Century European Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1950s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Silver
20th Century North American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century French Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow 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.