Tennis season is upon us. Wimbledon is finishing up and the women’s U.S. Open is set to get underway. So it’s a perfect time to look at the tennis bracelet – a great piece of jewelry that comes with a great story.
At the 1987 U.S. Open, tennis star Chris Evert was playing in a hotly contested game. She suddenly stopped mid-match and asked the officials for a time out. The reason: The clasp on her diamond bracelet had broken and the bracelet had fallen off her wrist, and she wanted to find it before playing the next point. When asked about it in an interview, she called the missing piece of jewelry her “tennis bracelet,” and so the iconic name was born.
Chris Evert sporting her diamond tennis bracelet at the 1989 U.S. Open. Photo by Adam Stoltman, © Corbis
The bracelet Evert was wearing during the match was a line bracelet set with diamonds made by noted jewelry designer George Bedewi. Traditionally featuring diamonds, this style of bracelet can also be set with colored stones or a combination of diamonds and colored stones. Thanks to Evert’s incident that brought it into the national spotlight, sales of the bracelet exploded and became forever known as the tennis bracelet.
Considering Evert’s famous mishap, you might be wondering if wearing a tennis bracelet during a match is a good idea. GIA experts offer a few suggestions so you can wear your bracelet without fear:
- In addition to the clasp, add a safety catch on the side of the bracelet for added protection.
- Have the tennis bracelet routinely checked by a jeweler to make sure the clasp, safety catch, and mountings are secure.
- Keep the diamonds sparkling with periodic cleaning.
Nearly 30 years have passed since Evert’s unforgettable on-court incident, and the tennis bracelet is still a fashion accessory for the sophisticated set. Below, we share some tennis bracelets that are a grand slam.
A platinum tennis bracelet with 45 emerald cut diamonds weighing a total of 16 carats. Photo courtesy of ItsHot.com
Here’s a tennis bracelet you could wear during a match at Wimbledon: 45 emerald cut diamonds, weighing a total of 16 carats, are set in platinum. It’s so dazzlingly white that, if the sun shines on it, the glare might momentarily blind your opponent.
Gold tennis bracelet with 3.07 carats of diamonds. Photo courtesy of Eragem.com
Maybe platinum is not your metal of choice. If that’s the case, this 14K gold bracelet set with 3.07 carats of diamonds might step up your game.
Three tennis bracelets in yellow, rose, and white gold. Photo courtesy of ItsHot.com
Stackable jewelry creates a great look that’s versatile. You can be the fashionista at the club when you wear these three tennis bracelets available in 10K yellow, white, or rose gold, each sporting a total of 4.50 carats of diamonds.
Platinum and 18K white gold earrings with 2.20 carats of diamonds. Photo courtesy of 1stdibs.com
Don’t like bracelets? How about these earrings fashioned as tennis players? Notice how one is serving and the other is returning. These creative earrings are set with approximately 2.20 carats of diamonds in platinum and 18K white gold.
The tennis bracelet remains popular because it’s an elegant piece of jewelry that comes with a fun story. Now you have some ideas to decorate your wrist.
Is the man in your life a sport’s fan and likes jewelry? Here are some sports-themed jewelry pieces he might want to sport.
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