Why Is It Called a Tennis Bracelet?

What does a diamond bracelet have to do with tennis? The answer starts with a match that briefly stopped for jewelry.

During the 1978 U.S. Open, tennis champion Chris Evert lost the diamond bracelet she was wearing on the court. Play paused while she searched for it. The bracelet was a line bracelet, a flexible row of stones that had been worn long before Evert’s match. Her memorable moment helped give the style the name we know today: the tennis bracelet.

Chris Evert sporting her diamond tennis bracelet at the 1989 U.S. Open. Photo by Adam Stoltman, © Corbis

The classic design features a continuous line of diamonds, but tennis bracelets can also feature colored gemstones or simulated stones. It’s a simple idea with plenty of room for personal style.

Evert’s story offers a useful reminder, too: pay attention to the clasp. GIA recommends a safety catch and routine checks of the clasp and stone settings to help keep a bracelet secure.

Want to see the style up close? Explore our 18K white gold diamond tennis bracelet or our Lafonn sterling silver tennis bracelet with simulated diamonds. Then visit Diamond Jim’s Pineforest Jewelry Experience in Houston to find the one that feels right on your wrist.

History and care sources: Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and Chris Evert’s tennis bracelet collection.