How Did the Tennis Bracelet Get Its Name?

Bracelets of varying types have been traced back to prehistoric time. A popular type that has been in fashion since the beginning of the 20th century is the in-line bracelet. Made up of uniform settings placed on small links, this type of bracelet has been the choice for artisans creating pieces featuring symmetrically perfect diamonds in petite settings. Due to the expense associated with the large number of diamonds required for this piece of jewelry, the bands have been kept narrow and have therefore garnered a reputation of being exclusively feminine.

The term “tennis bracelet,” on the other hand, did not come into popular use until 1987. Wearing an in-line bracelet during the U.S. Tennis Championships, tennis player Chris Evert called a halt to an ongoing match when her jewelry piece came loose during a particularly hard swing. With the championship match halted, the tennis great went in search of the missing bracelet. Once found, she gave the go-ahead to continue with the game play.

Since sports legends have always been trendsetters with respect to fashions, it is not surprising that the humble in-line bracelet was soon nicknamed a tennis bracelet. The name stuck; and while most jewelry buyer may not know what an in-line armlet actually looks like, almost everyone knows exactly what to expect from a tennis bracelet.

As time has moved on, there are now a number of variations on the theme.

Classic. The classic tennis bracelet features diamonds in yellow gold settings.

Inexpensive. For the parent who wants to give a tennis bracelet as a gift for a teen’s birthday or special occasion, the use of cubic zirconia helps to greatly bring down the expense of the piece. The setting may be gold-plated metal or silver.

Chic. Envision a setting of yellow or white gold, palladium or platinum. Instead of diamonds, the artisan uses sapphires, rubies, emeralds or other gems.

Although settings and stones may change, the overall femininity of the piece has remained the standard. If you are in the market to add a tennis bracelet to your collection of fine jewelry, consider carefully your material choices. Due to the hardness of the diamond, these stones are perfect for daily wear. They do not scratch and remain pristine looking for decades to come.

To recreate Evert’s look, you may choose colorless diamonds. If you already own colored diamond jewelry, consider matching the look of the bracelet to the other pieces. Finally, carefully consider the amount of “dangle” that you feel comfortable with. If you do not allow for enough, the bracelet is too tight and does not properly adorn your wrist. If you keep it too loose, you risk losing the piece or having it fall too far over the back of your hand.

No matter what look you favor, it is a good idea to work with a skilled jeweler to find just the right stones and length for a tennis bracelet.

At Peter Suchy Jewelers, we carry many vintage and estate “tennis” bracelets and we invite you to stop by our showroom at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut.

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