Tennis bracelet

A tennis bracelet is an elegant, flexible band with a continuous line of individually set diamonds or gemstones, running unbroken around the wrist. Round brilliant diamonds are the most popular choice, with princess and emerald cuts as alternatives. Coloured stones such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds appear too.

Because every stone sits in its own small setting and the line is flexible, a tennis bracelet is a different kind of piece from a bangle or a plain chain bracelet. The line-of-stones idea has a close relative in the tennis chain. For a buyer’s overview, see the tennis bracelet guide.

Before the name stuck, this style was known as a diamond line bracelet or an eternity bracelet. The usual story is that Chris Evert’s bracelet clasp broke during a US Open match, the bracelet fell to the court, and play was halted while she looked for it. Asked what she was searching for, she called it her “tennis bracelet”.

Accounts differ on the year. A Tennis.com piece on a bracelet collection made with Evert gives 1978, and Mental Floss reports that her publicist recalled the bracelet breaking in an early round that year. GIA’s 2016 account says 1987, and its 2025 buying guide places it only at a US Open in the 1980s. Mental Floss found the term “tennis bracelet” in newspapers only from the mid-1980s, including a December 1986 gift guide and a summer 1987 New York Times feature. The safest summary is that the story is Evert’s, the 1978 date comes from her side, and the name spread through the 1980s.

Tennis bracelets come in three common settings. Each is a trade between light, protection and how smooth the bracelet feels against clothing and skin. See the prong, bezel and channel entries for how each holds a stone. Whichever you prefer, ask to see the bracelet moving on the wrist, since a flexible line should follow the wrist without gaps opening between stones.

The round brilliant, princess and emerald cuts are the common choices, and the round brilliant is the most popular. Common metals are 18K gold in yellow, white or rose, platinum and silver. Platinum keeps its colour and lustre without tarnishing; silver is softer and may need regular polishing. See 18K gold, platinum and sterling silver for what each metal involves.

Because a bracelet holds many stones, stone type and the total carat weight both shape the result. Diamonds can be natural or lab-grown, so ask which you are being shown, along with how many stones the bracelet holds.

The simple test is to fit one finger between your wrist and the bracelet. It should be loose enough to move a little, but not so loose that it slides off. Measure your wrist rather than guessing, and ask whether a link can be removed or added.

The clasp deserves the same attention as the stones. Evert’s story began with a broken clasp, so ask what type the bracelet has and whether there is a safety latch as a back-up; clasps often come with one. Clean the bracelet with dish soap and a soft toothbrush, and have the settings inspected from time to time. The jewellery care guide covers the routine.

A custom piece starts with the stones and settings above. Diamond Bros’ custom jewellery design service covers bracelets, with a choice of natural, lab-grown or moissanite stones. The design studio is the place to try a combination, the bracelets collection shows finished pieces, and a showroom visit lets you put one on and check the fit. Bring your wrist measurement and a note of the setting you prefer.