The New Diamond Tennis Bracelets To Know
Cool and contemporary designers are giving this jewellery box staple a glow up with new silhouettes and unusual stones
Arguably, every woman should own at least one tennis bracelet. Almost ubiquitous, these humble strings of diamonds have been crafted across cultures and continents for centuries, but it was the 1920s era that cemented the tennis bracelet – at that time called a line bracelet – as a keystone of every woman’s fine jewellery collection.
Stacked several at a time over evening gloves during the Art Deco movement, line bracelets were slinky enough to embody the free-spirited, ideological unbuttoning that came with the demise of the corset, and complemented the dropped waist evening dresses that ensued. And thus, with the right marketing – the style was pitched as an easy-breezy take on effortless glamour for the modern woman – an icon emerged.
Anecdotally, there are reports that such bracelets were sometimes referred to as ‘service stripes’ – a reference to the military stripes sported by soldiers to convey their length of service. Often bestowed upon wives for a wedding anniversary, a hefty stack of tennis bracelets light-heartedly acknowledged many domestic tours of duty. Throughout the last few decades, the term eternity bracelet has also been coined; the tennis bracelet effectively operating as the eternity band for your wrist. The design finally earned the name we use today in 1978, when champion tennis player Chris Evert – who had a penchant for wearing diamond bracelets on court – famously stopped play in the early rounds of the U.S. Open when her tennis bracelet broke mid-match and fell to the floor.
Suzanne Kalan and Anita Ko, two American brands regularly worn on the red carpet for their unexpected, modern interpretations of classic diamond jewellery, are exploring unusual diamond cuts, using baguette cut diamonds and marquise shape stones to glittering effect.
Octavia Elizabeth, a Los-Angeles-based brand founded by bench jeweller Octavia Zamagias, has a cult following for her ‘Nesting Gem’ and ‘Blossom’ tennis bracelets, admired for their organic feel. While many designers stick to minimalist metal settings to place all emphasis on the stones, Zamagias developed her delicately hammered settings to ensure the metal also shimmers and gives extra, subtle sheen.
Meanwhile, for those looking for total, unashamed splendour, New York-based designer Melissa Kaye has created an ultra-luxe take on the tennis bracelet – a 15 stone strong iteration that forms a sinuous second skin around the wrist.
Jade Trau, another New Yorker, is a 5th generation diamantaire who is similarly showing off serious stones – her serrated gold settings add a refreshing twist to the tennis bracelet, giving it new, edgier energy.
Across the pond, London-based Indian designer Ananya Malhotra has offered her take on the tennis bracelet, translating the design codes of her cult Chakra bracelets into the tennis bracelet realm to ‘add a little personality.’ The designer’s signature solid gold bar, entirely dusted with diamonds, also features white quartz – an appeal to those who believe in the healing qualities of crystals.
To be truly craveworthy right now, a tennis bracelet must bring something extra to the table. David Morris’ platinum design features unusual lozenge shaped diamonds, while Chaumet’s ‘Bee My Love’ design celebrates hexagon cuts.
British maison Boodles, which has a longstanding partnership with the Wimbledon tennis tournament, has added a playful diamond-studded tennis ball charm to their classic design, while Pragnell, another British heritage brand, has merged the tennis bracelet with a modern chain bracelet to create a scintillating hybrid that will add instant glamour to any wrist stack.
Regionally, Mouawad offers one of the most imaginative takes on the trend, with its Sera Celestial design featuring diamond-set pebble motifs, while Savolinna has interpreted the tennis bracelet silhouette played out in eye-catching emeralds. Hiba Jaber’s signature Odd One Out tennis bracelet is available in an array of coloured stones, with a quirky single white diamond that scintillates between brightly-hued gems.
When it comes to tennis bracelet styling, there are few hard rules. Whether paired with colourful bead bracelets, shining bangles or just a chic watch bracelet, minimalists should curate a tight capsule wardrobe of precious pieces, while maximalists should layer with abandon… the ball is in your court.
