Choker Necklaces
20th Century Unknown Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Victorian Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century Unknown Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Enamel
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1990s French Modernist Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Rose Gold
1970s African Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Malachite, Jasper
20th Century Italian Art Deco Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
1990s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century Unknown Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Greek Greek Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Jade, Black Jade, Yellow Gold
1990s Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century European Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1990s Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s European Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century American Choker Necklaces
1990s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Onyx, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Silver
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century European Artist Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1990s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
20th Century American Retro Choker Necklaces
Gold-filled
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Choker Necklaces
Silver
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 18k 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.