Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Early 2000s French Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate, Mixed Metal
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Platinum
1950s American Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
1990s European Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Early 2000s Italian Choker Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1970s American Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1890s Antique Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
1990s American Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century French Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Early 20th Century Asian Art Deco Choker Necklaces
1960s Unknown Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
1870s Victorian Antique Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Early 20th Century European Victorian Choker Necklaces
Silver
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1980s Brazilian Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Morganite, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Yellow Sapphire
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
20th Century Finnish Modernist Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s North American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold, Vermeil, Silver
1980s American Artist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, White Gold
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Silver Plate, Mixed Metal
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Ruby, Yellow Gold
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k 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.