Choker Necklaces
1960s European Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Enamel
1980s Brazilian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Rubelite, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Citrine, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold Plate
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s French Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Jade, Black Jade, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Pearl
1980s European Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s Unknown Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s European Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s French Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold
1980s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Quartz
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Contemporary Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1960s French Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s American Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1980s German Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1980s Brazilian Artisan Vintage Choker Necklaces
Quartz, Sterling Silver
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s English Egyptian Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s French Byzantine Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s English Egyptian Revival Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s German Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s American Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1960s American Art Nouveau Vintage Choker Necklaces
Crystal
1960s Finnish Vintage Choker Necklaces
Moonstone, Silver
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s Post-War Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1980s European Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
1960s Australian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Quartz, 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.