Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
1980s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
2010s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Gold Plate
1980s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s French Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Peridot, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Swedish Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Dutch Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
1910s German Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 17th Century Brazilian Antique Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Crystal, Quartz, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
1950s British Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver