Choker Necklaces
1990s French Modernist Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Brazilian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Brass
1990s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
1970s American Baroque Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Jade, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1990s Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1980s European Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Jade, 10k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Finnish Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Enamel
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Swedish Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Greek Hellenistic Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
1970s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Brass
1990s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1970s American Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1980s American Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s American Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Asian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Baroque Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Pink Sapphire, White Gold
1970s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1980s North American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
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.