What are Diamond Tennis Bracelets?
The illustrious diamond tennis bracelet, now one of the most familiar and favored pieces of jewelry, once went by less storied names like the line diamond bracelet and the eternity bracelet. While we fell in love with it on the tennis court, a "tennis" bracelet is far from the fashionable piece of sports equipment its name implies. So, what is a tennis bracelet? It's a wrist-worn fashion accessory made of a collection of small diamonds or other gemstones placed in a slim and flexible metal setting.
Why is it Called a Tennis Bracelet?
The name "tennis bracelet" comes from an auspicious event at the 1987 US Open involving Chris Evert losing her diamond bracelet on the court. The illustrious, Hall of Fame tennis player asked the officials to stop the match to find her precious line bracelet. It's no wonder that the subject of this unusual request and televised search instantly became famous. She found her bracelet, and the piece of jewelry quickly became an enduring object of desire and a popular gift item the world over.
Choose from Different Tennis Bracelet Styles
The classic tennis bracelet design has a single row of diamonds, forming a lovely loop around the wrist. This pairs well with similarly designed wedding and engagement rings with single bands of diamonds. Besides the single-row design, there are eternity bracelets — dazzling symbols of everlasting love — with two and even three rows of diamonds. These feel more substantial on the wrist. A three-row diamond tennis bracelet is an excellent substitute for a bangle.
Consider the Metal When Picking a Tennis Bracelet
The metals commonly used for this fashion accessory are gold, platinum, and sterling silver.
Gold is a popular option as its deep golden hue contrasts the brightness of the diamonds. Platinum and sterling silver both have finishes closest to the glint of diamonds. Platinum is an even stronger metal than gold, and sterling silver tennis bracelets are always the most affordable. For a striking contrast, look for a gold-over-silver piece or one with a rose or yellow gold setting. The lustrous finish of rose gold and the sparkle of yellow gold accentuate the shimmer of diamonds whenever the bracelet catches the light.
In addition to the metal used for the bracelet setting, you should consider the actual setting used to hold the diamonds in place. Prong is the most popular setting used for diamond tennis bracelets. Other common setting designs are bezel, pave and channel. A prong setting allows the most light to shine through the diamonds, while a channel setting makes it possible to seat the diamonds close together. A bezel setting encloses each diamond in the bracelet in metal and gives the piece of jewelry an encrusted look. In pave setting, the diamonds have the least contact with the metal framework to make the bracelet look paved with stones.
Consider Tennis Bracelet Diamond Cut, Color, and Clarity
Like the setting metal choice, the cut and clarity of the diamonds used contribute to the overall look of a tennis bracelet. These exquisite pieces usually feature diamonds with round or princess cuts. Both cuts look equally elegant. Therefore, you should pick the cut that appeals to you or the one that matches the diamond cut in your wedding ring or stud earrings.
The color grade of diamonds varies from bracelet to bracelet. The highest grade is D, while diamonds at the lower end of range fall in the K-Z grades and have a noticeable yellowish tint and warm tones. Choose a tennis bracelet with colorless or near-colorless diamonds if the metal setting is white gold or platinum. For rose gold and yellow gold, the warm tones of yellow-tinted diamonds are complementary and desirable.
Tennis Bracelet FAQs
Do tennis players wear tennis bracelets?
Some do. Both casual and professional players wear line bracelets as fashion accessories and as a nod to their storied history. Some avid fans and players even go further by wearing diamond tennis bracelets crafted with metal settings shaped like interlinking tennis rackets. While there's no strict rule on which wrist to wear a line bracelet, most people prefer to wear them on their less dominant hand when playing tennis. If you hold the racket in your right hand, wear the bracelet on your left hand. This reduces the chances of snapping the bracelet and losing it while playing, as happened to Chris Evert. However, when wearing this bracelet off the court, consider wearing it on your dominant hand as every hand movement shows it off.
Can you don a tennis bracelet for everyday wear?
Yes. A diamond tennis bracelet pairs well with casual wear and formal dresses. You can wear one on the weekends with a T-shirt and a pair of jeans or an evening dress. During the week, this versatile bracelet also looks good with pantsuits and other office wear for women. Show off your unique sense of style with a tennis bracelet for every occasion. Wear it to a lunch or a dinner date. It should be your go-to fashion accessory whether you're headed to the red carpet like a celebrity, an office gathering, or your kid's sports events. This piece also pairs well with other jewelry, like diamond earrings or wedding rings.
How many carats is a tennis bracelet?
Since a tennis bracelet is composed of a line of multiple diamonds, the carat count of the piece is actually determined by the combined weight of all the diamonds together. A diamond tennis bracelet typically starts at a single carat but can easily range to 11 carats or more. Just bear in mind that the higher the carat count, the harder it will be to swing that tennis racket.
How do you find the right size of diamond tennis bracelet?
While finding the right size for a bracelet is not as vital as finding the correct ring size, doing so helps you avoid after-sale modifications that may ruin the look of an otherwise perfect bracelet. Furthermore, measuring your wrist for a bracelet is necessary to make sure you don't end up with a piece of jewelry that's too small. For more information, check out our handy printable jewelry sizing guide.