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.
1970s French Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, Silver
1970s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1970s Danish Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1970s Indian Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
1970s Swiss Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s French Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1990s Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Quartz, Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Ruby, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond
2010s French Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1970s French Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Rhodium
20th Century French Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1980s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s English Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1970s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1970s Unknown Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
1970s French Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s American Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
1970s American Vintage Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold