Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1990s French Modern Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Gold Plate
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century French Modernist Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
1990s French Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1950s Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century European Choker Necklaces
1970s European Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century American Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Platinum
1980s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Chrysophrase, 18k Gold, Enamel
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century Mexican Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
1960s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s American Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
1980s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Unknown Artisan Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold
20th Century American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1940s European Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
1960s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl, Gold Plate
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1960s Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 1900s Antique Choker Necklaces
Crystal
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 22k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1990s French Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1990s French Modern Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White 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.