Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze, Gilt Metal
Late 20th Century Mexican Modernist Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl
1980s Dutch Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century English Edwardian Choker Necklaces
Platinum
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1990s French Choker Necklaces
24k Gold
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Gold, Gold Plate
1950s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
1980s Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1920s American Art Nouveau Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl
1960s Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Ruby, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1970s Greek Greek Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
Malachite, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Mexican Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver
1980s American Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1950s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Copper, Enamel, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Byzantine Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1920s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
20th Century French Modern Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Peridot, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1970s Swiss Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1950s British Post-War Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Greek Revival Choker Necklaces
Silver
1990s Modernist Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Asian Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Dutch Edwardian Choker Necklaces
Coral, Gold
1940s French Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Silver, Gilt Metal
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.