A tennis bracelet is a luxurious, highly sought-after bracelet that contains a flexible continuous line of gemstones. Tennis bracelets mostly feature diamonds, but it is possible to find a bracelet with other stones like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Whatever stones are used for a tennis bracelet are all the same. Meaning, the bracelet features diamonds, sapphires, rubies, or emeralds all the same cut and size around the entire bracelet.
Thinking of adding a tennis bracelet to your jewelry box or buying one for someone special? Here’s your ultimate guide to tennis bracelets and how to find the perfect fit.
What Makes Tennis Bracelets So Special?
You might have heard about the tennis bracelet and wonder why it’s so special. While the continuous line of stones creates a perfect, symmetrical design that’s simple in nature, it’s the symbolism of love and eternity that makes them so popular.
Tennis bracelets are also versatile to wear. Most people think of these status bracelets as something that belongs in formal settings, but they’re actually perfect for everyday looks. Not only are they comfortable to wear from their flexible design, but they also contain a classic design that pairs beautifully with the simplest of outfits.
Why Is It Called a Tennis Bracelet?
You may be wondering why this popular jewelry piece is called a tennis bracelet and not an “eternity bracelet” or “diamond line bracelet” that it once was named.
In 1987, a professional tennis player named Chris Evert was wearing a diamond line brace during a match. While playing, the clasp on her bracelet broke and the bracelet fell off her wrist. Evert asked for the match to be paused while she searched for her bracelet on the court.
This caused widespread media attention and a rise in this style of jewelry becoming popular. Because of this incident and the attention/popularization it caused, the eternity bracelet or diamond line bracelet became known as “the tennis bracelet.”
Anatomy and Design – Break down the components and construction of a tennis bracelet.
Here’s a breakdown of the anatomy and design of a tennis bracelet in greater detail:
- Uniform gemstones: The most popular characteristic of the tennis bracelet construction are the uniform gemstones. Tennis bracelets feature a single row of continuous diamonds or other precious stones all the same size, cut, and shape.
- Flexibility: Tennis bracelets are not still like bangles or cuff bracelets. Instead, tennis bracelets feature a flexible setting that’s fluid in movement which makes it comfortable to wear.
- High-quality metal: Other than the diamonds or stones, tennis bracelets are made with exceptional metals such as traditional yellow gold, white gold, or platinum.
- Gemstone shape: Tennis bracelets come in an array of gemstone shapes from circles to emerald cut, princess cut, or modern cuts.
- Prong settings: Prong settings in tennis bracelets vary as well with how the gemstones are held in place. Most tennis bracelets feature prong settings or bezel settings.
- Secure clasp: Because tennis bracelets are so precious, they feature a highly secure clasp to keep the bracelet in place.
The Evolution and Popularity of the Tennis Bracelet
While the tennis bracelet became popular in 1987 from the US Open match, they have stayed relevant for the past several decades. Tennis bracelets were even widely popular before 1987 due to their classic, elegant design of sparkly diamonds all in a continuous row. But, the tennis incident changed everything.
Now, the tennis bracelet is still viewed as a luxury item and status symbol, but it also represents an active lifestyle. While classic designs still exist, modern adaptations are coming into the jewelry piece to offer more personality and self-expression while wearing it.
Modern Trends and Styles
One of the biggest modern trends for tennis bracelets is the inclusion of colored stones. Traditionally, tennis bracelets were viewed as a diamond-only piece of jewelry, being a status symbol that even celebrities wanted in on. Now, more inclusion of deep red rubies and royal blue rubies are becoming a leading trend to offer more versatility in looks with different colors.
Other than colors, layering your tennis bracelet is a modern way to use the piece. While the traditional way to wear a tennis bracelet was just to feature that piece only on your wrist, a popular trend in 2025 is to stack your tennis bracelet with other bracelets varying in size and shape for a modern design.
But, these modern tennis bracelet trends aren’t just for women to enjoy; men’s styles are getting in on the fashion too. Men’s versions of tennis bracelets are now becoming popular with bolder looks that still accentuate traditional features such as diamonds or stones being included in the piece.
Choosing the Right Tennis Bracelet
Who doesn’t want to add a tennis bracelet to their jewelry lineup? Once you start shopping for this envious piece of jewelry, you’ll want to take your time to carefully choose the right bracelet for you. Here’s how to tell if a tennis bracelet is real and a few tips for finding the perfect fit.
How to Tell If a Tennis Bracelet Is Real
An authentic tennis bracelet is key to wearing a beautiful tennis bracelet on your wrist, and there are a few ways to spot a real tennis bracelet versus a fake one. Real tennis bracelets always come with hallmarks or stamps that indicate the metal’s purity. This will show up as a number stamped somewhere on the bracelet’s clasp which should have a secure fit if the bracelet is real.
You should also perform stone quality checks on the diamonds or gemstones to tell whether or not the piece is real. Real gemstones should look clear and pure. One way to check to see if your stones are real is with a fog test. Gently breathe onto the stones and watch for the fog to disappear. If the diamonds are real, the fog should disappear immediately.
Sizing and Fit Guidelines
One of the most important aspects of purchasing a tennis bracelet is to get the fit right. You want your tennis bracelet to feel secure yet still have space to move comfortably with your wrist.
To find your perfect size, start by measuring your wrist with a flexible tape measurer. Wrap it around your wrist to find the circumference and then add 0.5 or 1.0 inch to your measured size for your ideal fit.
Your tennis bracelet should fit comfortably and allow enough room for one to two fingers to slip in between the bracelet and your skin without the jewelry being too tight or loose.
Tips for Caring for Your Tennis Bracelet
Once you have your tennis bracelet at home, you’ll want to stick to a proper cleaning schedule to maintain the brilliance of your gemstones. Cleaning your tennis bracelet is something you can do at home, but it is a good idea to take it into a professional once or twice a year for a deeper clean.
To clean your tennis bracelet at home, here’s everything you will need:
A small bowl to soak your bracelet in
- Warm water
- Gentle dish soap
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Microfiber cloth
Follow these instructions for cleaning your tennis bracelet at home:
- In your small bowl, make a homemade solution of warm water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Soak your bracelet in the soapy water for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Take your soft-bristled toothbrush and, very gently, start scrubbing the diamonds and settings to remove dirt and grime.
- Rinse the bracelet under a gentle stream of water before buffing and drying with a clean microfiber cloth.
Apart from cleaning, you’ll want to make sure you store your tennis bracelet properly when it’s not in use. Store your tennis bracelet in a soft cloth jewelry pouch to keep it away from other pieces of jewelry that can scratch it in a jewelry box.
Tennis Bracelets as Gifts: Meanings and Occasions
If you’re not shopping for a tennis bracelet for yourself, know that they make wonderful gifts full of beautiful meanings. Tennis bracelets have been a go-to jewelry gift of choice for decades now for several occasions such as important milestones, anniversaries, or life events.
Because of the tennis bracelet’s symbolism of love and eternity, these classic bracelets are full of meaning that anyone can wear to add elegance, grace, and luxury to any outfit. Find the perfect gift for you or someone special in our tennis bracelet collection at Ferko’s Fine Jewelry.