Tennis bracelets are typically made with diamonds. They are iconic fashion statements that are sophisticated and stylish. A tennis bracelet can be accessorized in any style from a formal to a casual look. Whether it’s for a red carpet event or a simple lunch, this staple and versatile jewelry piece blend in easily.
A high-quality tennis bracelet like has incredible flash and brilliance while always maintaining a subtle class. They’re timeless and classic and timeless which is what makes a good quality tennis bracelet heirloom-worthy.
A tennis bracelet is a slim piece of elegant jewelry that has small gems or diamonds connected by a delicate metal chain. A tennis bracelet is usually made of 14K gold onwards to about 20K gold, sterling silver, or platinum.
Why is it called a Tennis Bracelet?
Some unusually named pieces of jewelry don’t always have a definite origin story. An ideal example of this is a tennis bracelet. Think about it, why would such a delicate and gorgeous diamond bracelet that has absolutely nothing to do with tennis, be called a tennis bracelet?
The story is set in 1978. An American tennis player, Chris Evert, was competing in the U.S open wearing a dainty diamond line bracelet by George Bedewi.
During the match, her bracelet slipped off her wrist onto the court and she immediately exclaimed that she had dropped her “tennis bracelet”. The officials immediately paused the match to search for the bracelet, meanwhile, the TV viewers and spectators intently watched the search.
Soon after this incident, jewelers were being bombarded with an overwhelming amount of requests for the “tennis bracelet”. The bracelets that were once called diamond line bracelets have been called tennis bracelets since this match. Moreover, the clasps for these bracelets have been made stronger with secure fastenings so similar incidents don’t reoccur.
How to Assess the Quality of a Tennis Bracelet
Two factors need to be paid attention to when you assess the quality of a diamond tennis bracelet. The first thing to pay attention to is the sort of metal used to create the bracelet and the second factor is the diamond’s beauty and radiance.
The price of a tennis bracelet is varied on the basis of the number and size of diamonds and the metal type. A tennis bracelet’s starting price is $2,500, thereafter, progressively increasing to higher figures. The cost of a tennis bracelet can’t be compared to one that contains 1.5 cttw of diamonds to a tennis bracelet that contains 3 cttw of diamonds.
Several metals are used in tennis bracelets, the most common being rose gold, yellow gold, white gold, sterling silver, and platinum. There isn’t a metal that is specifically the best for a tennis bracelet.
Each metal offers its individual feel and look, so it all boils down to preference and which one you like the best. One important factor to keep in mind as this is an everyday wear bracelet is durability. The metals mentioned above are more than durable to use every day.
Coming to the diamonds, give them a close inspection with your naked eye or use a high-resolution capturing device.
Compared to purchasing an engagement ring, the stone in the center should be certified to be ensured of its good quality. However, it’s not worth the expense of grading the diamonds in a tennis bracelet because the stones are so small.
To put it in perspective, there are normally about 55 diamonds used in a typical tennis bracelet and to certify them all, you would need to spend around $5,000. The diamonds used in tennis bracelets aren’t certified or graded because of this huge cost.
It is vital that your tennis bracelet is bought from a thoroughly reputable and vetted. Now you must be wondering, why do you pay so much if the diamonds can’t be certified? Well, the majority of what is being paid for is the handling, craftsmanship, style, skills, and packaging that go into making these bracelets. The manufacturing process is labor-intensive.
While reviewing the diamonds, ensure that the light reflects back to the eye creating a vibrant sparkle, this is known as brilliance. Also, ensure that the diamonds don’t have any noticeable defects, the stones should look white with respect to the setting.
Tennis Bracelet Styles and Settings
Tennis bracelets come in various styles. Most designs have one row of diamonds, while other bracelets contain two or three rows of diamonds. Some styles incorporate different cuts, for example, the emerald cut for the platinum tennis bracelets and the princess cut white gold bracelet from James Allen and many other tennis bracelets use round-cut diamonds.
Settings commonly have three varieties:
Prong: Metal prongs are designed to securely hold the stone in place while allowing light to pass through the pavilion of the diamond. Usually, there are three prongs, sometimes four, that are used for each diamond.
Channel: Two rows of thin metal are designed to hold the stone on either side where the diamonds sit close together.
Bezel (or Half Bezel): Similar to a watch head, metal envelops the stone.
The diamond is securely held in each style offering a special and unique look. Similar to the metals, there’s no such thing as the best bracelet design, it all comes down to your choice and what you’re happy with.
When to Buy Tennis Bracelets
Tennis bracelets are perfect for a meaningful and thoughtful gift idea to give yourself or a loved one. Tennis bracelets are known to be heirloom-worthy due to their popular appeal and classic design. These bracelets are often passed down for generations as family treasures, keepsakes, and heirlooms.
For any of the following occasions, a tennis bracelet can make a splendid gift :
- Birth of a child
- Birthday
- Wedding day gift for your mother, spouse, mother-in-law, friend
- Wedding anniversary
- Valentine’s Day
- Graduation (graduate school, college, high school, medical school, PhD)
- Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and other holidays
- Achievement of a memorable milestone
- Job promotion
- Retirement
How to Determine Sizing for a Tennis Bracelet
An easy way to find the best size for a tennis bracelet is by simply measuring a person’s wrist. If a measuring tape isn’t accessible to you, find a piece of ribbon or wool to wrap around your wrist and cut it once it has covered the circumference of your wrist, and measure it later on.
While calculating bracelet size, regardless of the measuring tool used, ensure to add half an inch to one inch to the total measurement. To illustrate, if your wrist measures six inches, take into consideration 6.5 to 7 inches for your bracelet, the more the better, as it can always be reduced.
The most popular starting bracelet size guide for women is the 7-7.5 inches. It is easy to adjust a tennis bracelet, simply remove the connecting links to reduce the chain’s length. It is not as important to get the bracelet’s size totally right compared to how careful you have to be when you’re buying a ring for your engagement or wedding.
Bottom Line
Here’s everything you should know about tennis bracelets. They are elegant, delicate, and have a subtle class to them, they can be dressed up or dressed down and are super versatile. Tennis bracelets are a good investment that can be enjoyed by many generations to come.
