Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold
1970s French Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s American Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century English Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
1980s German Edwardian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Brass, Copper, Enamel
1980s Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
20th Century Swiss Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s European Romantic Vintage Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century North American Retro Choker Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze, Gilt Metal
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Modernist Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Swiss Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Choker Necklaces
22k Gold, Brass
20th Century North American Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, Rhodolite, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
20th Century French Belle Époque Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
1990s French Choker Necklaces
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century American Etruscan Revival Choker Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1970s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
1940s Mexican Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Indian Art Nouveau Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, Enamel
1950s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1950s French Artist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1940s Regency Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
1970s American Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Carnelian, Bronze
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.