Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Asian Anglo-Indian Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Spanish Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Enamel
20th Century Portuguese Artisan Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Bronze
1960s Mexican Vintage Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Yellow Diamond
1980s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Choker Necklaces
2010s Italian Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1760s French George II Antique Choker Necklaces
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
1960s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Brazilian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Quartz, Sterling Silver
1980s Central American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Early 2000s Polynesian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Swedish Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Choker Necklaces
Pearl
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s English Egyptian Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Baroque Choker Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1890s Belle Époque Antique Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 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.