Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary North American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century English Edwardian Choker Necklaces
Platinum
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Platinum
1990s Italian Choker Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Victorian Antique Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver
1890s Renaissance Revival Antique Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s South American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Choker Necklaces
Quartz, Other, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Rhodium, Silver
2010s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Choker Necklaces
Coral, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond
Early 20th Century European Jugendstil Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Gold, Platinum, Gold
Mid-19th Century European Romantic Antique Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Vermeil, Silver
18th Century and Earlier Belle Époque Antique Choker Necklaces
1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1990s Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s French Modern Choker Necklaces
1980s North American Modern Vintage Choker Necklaces
Mixed Metal
1990s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Asian Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Coral, Silver
1990s Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s French Byzantine Vintage Choker Necklaces
2010s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1990s French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, 24k Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Beryl, Green Beryl, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Choker Necklaces
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold Plate
2010s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
1970s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
1980s Vintage Choker Necklaces
Early 2000s Choker Necklaces
2010s Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Emerald, Silver
20th Century French Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
20th Century Choker Necklaces
1970s Italian Vintage Choker Necklaces
14k Gold
1980s French Modernist Vintage Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
2010s Cypriot Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 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.