The Story of
the Tennis Bracelet

(From the Archives) It was a sun-drenched September afternoon at the 1978 U.S. Open in New York. All eyes were fixed on the court, where Chris Evert—the queen of cool—was battling point for point. Then, unexpectedly, the match came to a sudden halt. Evert had noticed her diamond bracelet was missing. The delicate, dazzling piece had quietly slipped from her wrist onto the hardcourt. Raising her hand she stopped play and players, officials, and ball boys joined the search for the glitter. The moment, broadcast live to millions, became unforgettable. Only once the sparkling treasure was safely back in her possession did Evert signal she was ready to continue. Well, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, after all!

In the following press conference, reporters swarmed Evert with questions about the bracelet’s design and the incident itself—unwittingly giving rise to the now-famous term “tennis bracelet.”

At its core, a tennis bracelet is a straight line of uniformly sized, individually set diamonds, meticulously matched for color, clarity, cut, and carat weight to create a seamless river of brilliance. Crafted in precious metals such as platinum, white gold, or yellow gold, it features a secure clasp—nowadays offered with additional safety mechanisms (thank you!)—ensuring the bracelet withstands movement without compromising elegance. Its design was simplicity at its most refined: flexible enough to move with the wearer, strong enough to endure a fierce backhand—well, almost.

A rich, nonathletic past

Long before it became chic on the wrist of a tennis icon, the bracelet we now know as the “tennis bracelet” had a rich, nonathletic past. In the 1920s during the height of the Art Deco era, diamond line bracelets—then called “eternity bracelets” or “in-line bracelets”—captivated the elite. These designs were characterized by bold geometry, clean lines, and symmetrical patterns. Often set in platinum, they featured a mix of round and baguette-cut diamonds, sometimes accented with onyx, emeralds, or sapphires for dramatic contrast. Worn by flapper-era socialites and Hollywood starlets, the style embodied the spirit of liberated femininity.

In the decades that followed, heritage jewelers like Cartier and David Yurman refined the form, making the design more minimalistic and streamlined.

Though often misattributed to the luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co.—perhaps because of the brand’s long-standing love affair with diamonds—the tennis bracelet was not born in their atelier. Elsa Peretti, the visionary designer for Tiffany & Co., redefined everyday luxury in the 1970s with her minimalist yet sensual approach to jewelry. Her iconic “Diamonds by the Yard” collection—delicate chains dotted with bezel-set diamonds—paved the way for a new kind of diamond bracelet: effortless, but not a tennis bracelet in the classic sense. In fact, no single house can claim its invention—or perhaps they simply had a very bad PR & marketing team over the last decades. The tennis bracelet’s moment of glory took place not in a drawing room or a chic store but on a tennis court in New York.

Why is it such a winner? The tennis bracelet’s genius lies in its versatility. Understated yet unmistakably luxurious, the tennis bracelet is durable enough for everyday life and elegant enough for the red carpet. It’s a status symbol that doesn’t need to shout, appealing to both minimalists and maximalists alike. It stands for effortless elegance, youthful vitality, and quiet persistence. Just like Evert. It is a glorious success story: Chris Evert won the US Open—and the bracelet set off on its dazzling victory tour around the world. Since then, countless jewelers have embraced and reinterpreted the design.

A Modern Icon

Today, nearly 50 years later, the tennis bracelet is more popular than ever. It’s the little black dress of jewelry—timeless, versatile, and always appropriate. Team it up with a fancy watch and take your wrist game to the next level. Wear it solo for quiet elegance, stack it for a modern edge, pair it with a gown or with denim and a T-shirt. The tennis bracelet transitions seamlessly between generations, styles, and occasions.

Few pieces say “I love you,” “Congratulations,” or “You won’t be sleeping for the next few years” quite as eloquently as a tennis bracelet. It’s the quiet hero of life’s big moments: a thoughtful gift for a milestone birthday, a sparkling gesture at an anniversary dinner, or a timeless token to mark the arrival of a new life (because diamonds do, in fact, survive teething). And it’s also the ultimate starter set in fine jewelry—for exceptionally fortunate little girls.

Tennis bracelets are now a standard in jewelry collections, from heritage maisons to modern ateliers. What began with a simple bracelet has expanded into an entire category, inspiring “tennis necklaces” and even “tennis anklets.” High jewelry houses offer versions with colored gemstones, mixed metals, and invisible clasps for a sleeker look. Even if you’re building a wrist stack, there’s no shortage of options.

It’s safe to say the tennis bracelet is experiencing a brilliant revival this year. The godmother herself, Chris Evert, recently collaborated with designer Monica Rich Kosann on a collection of bracelets. It marked the first time she ever designed a bracelet herself. “I remember everything about that day. The green court. The white lines. My diamond bracelet and the dripping sweat of competition.”

All these details inspired her very first creation. Together with the designer, Evert has envisioned a tennis bracelet collection that pays homage to that moment, weaving in personal touches: an emerald for the court’s green, a singular diamond drop to symbolize perseverance. Each piece, co-signed by Evert, finally gives the tennis legend a voice in the jewelry story she so inadvertently started.

Whether you dream of a classic white diamond river, a playful rainbow of sapphires, or a daring mix of cuts, colors, and shapes, one thing remains certain: The tennis bracelet continues to score, big time! It has become a must-have—and a reminder that every champion deserves a little sparkle.