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Bracelets are a great item of jewellery for everyday wear. Unlike necklaces that often get all tangled up or rings that can sometimes restrict your movement when you are trying to do something with your hands, bracelets hardly get in the way. Extremely versatile and easy to style, there are many bracelets out there to complement your personality. From minimalist chain bracelets and stretch bracelets to playful charm bracelets and sporty leather bracelets, there is truly a piece out there for everyone. One bracelet that continues to reign supreme in the jewellery world is tennis bracelets. Simple yet so, so stylish, tennis bracelets are one piece of jewellery that you can count on to remain timeless until the end of time.
So, what is a tennis bracelet? Read on to find out along with more interesting facts about this glamorous piece including where it gets its sporty name from.
Overview:
- What is a tennis bracelet?
- Why is it called a tennis bracelet?
- What is a diamond tennis bracelet?
- Are tennis bracelets unisex?
- How to style a tennis bracelet
- How to wear a tennis bracelet with a watch
What is a tennis bracelet?
Garnering popularity in the late 1980s, tennis bracelets are minimalist link-style bracelets that are often arranged in a pave setting. With a small latch that connects both ends of the bracelet into one another, the tennis bracelet has long been favoured for its simplicity and its ability to not get caught on items of clothing along with other pieces of jewellery. Unlike other types of fancy bracelets that often have trinkets, charms and other adornments on them along with heavy-duty latches, the tennis bracelet keeps it subtle. This is something that makes the tennis bracelet ideal for everyday wear, particularly if you work with your hands or undergo a lot of physical activity.
Occasionally referred to as an eternity bracelet due to its seamless design, tennis bracelets can be found in many different styles and hues from eclectic gold jewellery to stunning silver jewellery. And while tennis bracelets are most commonly found with diamonds, you can find them adorned with everything from affordable cubic zirconia stones and crystals, to colourful gemstones. Tennis bracelets even come in an array of different shapes and sizes with square links, rectangular links and sometimes even round links. So incredibly timeless and exquisitely crafted, it is not hard to see why tennis bracelets are the jewellery of choice for so many famous faces in the world including Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Markle, Kate Winslet and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
Georgini Sterling Silver Selena 3mm 19.5 cm Tennis Bracelet
$329.00
This stunning Georgini tennis bracelet features a continuous line of sparkly clear crystals, the prong setting allows the maximum amount of light to enter and reflect off of the crystals. With a 19.5cm length, this bracelet will fit comfortably around… read more
18ct White Gold 2 Carat Diamond 18.5cm Tennis Bracelet
$3,499.00
18ct White Gold 2 Carat Diamond 18.5cm Tennis Bracelet… read more
Why is it called a tennis bracelet?
So why the sports-themed name?
Tennis bracelets first got their name back in 1987 when America's most stylish tennis player, Chris Evert, ruled the courts at Wimbledon, Rod Laver Arena, and beyond. During the former world number one's match at the 1987 US Open, catastrophe struck when her bracelet broke as she went for a serve. This caused the stones to scatter all over the court and resulted in Evert requesting to pause the game so that she could collect all of her precious diamond stones.
The incident caused quite a stir among the fashion community and thus the term 'tennis bracelet' was coined. Evert, who won 18 Grand Slam singles in her tennis career, was known for her sense of style on the court as much as she was for her skills. She favoured the simplicity of a tennis bracelet as it meant she could wear her diamond jewellery while playing without the fear of it becoming all tangled up or caught up amongst her clothing or other accessories while attempting to make a serve. This style innovation caught on and it wasn't before long that other tennis greats began rocking tennis bracelets including world number ones Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Australia's own, Ash Barty.
But athletes weren't the only people who began to embrace these subtle yet stylish bracelets. Before long spectators and diamond enthusiasts, in general, began to wear these bracelets. Naturally many jewellers even began to produce their variations of this unique design, as while these bracelets may be known as tennis bracelets, their versatility and carefree design were suitable for many people that live life on the go and still want to add some sparkle to their look without the worry that their jewellery is going to get in the way of their day to day activities. The subtlety in their designs also meant that people could wear these bracelets without worrying that they were going to clash with their outfit or some of the other accessories they were wearing. Particularly, if you were wearing other diamonds such as a pair of diamond earrings or a diamond pendant.
What is a diamond tennis bracelet?
Super luxurious and timeless, diamond bracelets are arguably the holy grail when it comes to tennis bracelets. Generally consisting of round-cut, princess-cut or cushion-cut diamonds, diamond tennis bracelets is a style that is most commonly referred to as an eternity bracelet. This is because diamonds are the gemstone that is most commonly associated with eternal love and well, everyone knows that diamonds are forever. It is for this reason that diamond tennis bracelets are often given as gifts for milestone anniversaries such as the 60th wedding anniversary. To keep a consistent and symmetrical pattern, tennis bracelets adorned with diamonds will often feature stones that are of identical size, shape, clarity and colour as one another. The diamond stones will also be rather dainty to ensure that the heaviness of the bracelet doesn't weigh down the wearer's hand and wrist. Occasionally, diamond tennis bracelets will feature reflectors around each diamond stone to ensure maximum sparkle.
As such a versatile piece of jewellery, diamond tennis bracelets can have diamonds that take on many forms from the timeless white diamonds and the eco-friendly lab-grown diamonds, to the playful coloured diamonds boasting all vibrant shades of the rainbow. There are even diamond tennis bracelets featuring striking black diamonds for those who wish to be a little more daring with their look. And while you may assume a diamond bracelet as sophisticated as the tennis bracelet should be reserved for special events, the simple and hard-wearing design make diamond tennis bracelets a winner for adding some subtle sparkle to your everyday look and even days at the office.
Are tennis bracelets unisex?
The beauty of these bracelets is that unlike other types of jewellery out there, tennis bracelets are made to be worn by anyone. This is why you can expect to find many tennis-style bracelets in men's jewellery ranges. While the idea of a men's bracelet might be a little out there for some, for others, tennis bracelets are a normal part of a man's wardrobe due to their classic style and carefree nature. Men typically have thicker and bulkier wrists than women, meaning that some styles are a little too delicate for guys to wear daily. But not tennis bracelets. The sturdy and durable links of a tennis bracelet not only provide a comfortable setting for everyday wear but also sit well on men's wrists without looking too loose or tight.
While the idea of men wearing jewellery including tennis bracelets seems like a relatively new phenomenon, gender-specific and unisex jewellery has been a big part of dressing for men since as early as the 1950s. While men weren't necessarily wearing diamond tennis bracelets back then, they were wearing ID-style bracelets. During the free love era of the 60s and 70s, men began embracing a larger range of styles including timeless gold bracelets, sporty leather bracelets, casual chain-style silver bracelets and even arty stretch bracelets. As society was approaching the late 1980s, men began to get a little bolder and braver when it came to jewellery styling. This meant that there were a lot of men out there who were embracing tennis bracelets just as much as women were. It is a jewellery trend that has remained to this day, with many men sporting tennis bracelets on their own or even with a timepiece.
How to style a tennis bracelet
As one of the most timeless and versatile types of jewellery one can buy, there is an abundance of ways that you can style a tennis bracelet. Whether your tennis bracelet is a dazzling diamond bracelet, a budget-friendly zirconia bracelet or an eclectic gemstone bracelet, there is certainly no shortage of ways that you can wear your piece. No matter what the occasion, whether it be a casual day out, an outing at the office or a formal event, the simple styling choices that you make with your look have the potential to completely change up your look.
For casual outings with your tennis bracelet, keep it simple with a pair of jeans, an elegant blouse and a fine chain. This look allows you to accentuate your bracelet and avoids it getting lost among all your other jewellery and accessories. If you are eager to add a little more glamour to your everyday look, try complimenting your tennis bracelet with a sparkling pair of diamond hoop earrings, diamond stud earrings or a playful pair of zirconia earrings and even a simplistic diamond necklace. Alternatively, ooze elegance and playfulness with your look by layering multiple bracelets and bangles with your tennis bracelet. For nights out on the town and other formal occasions that call for a lot of sparkles, you cannot go wrong by rocking your tennis bracelet with a decadent pair of diamond drop earrings and a statement diamond ring or a vibrant gemstone ring.
How to wear a tennis bracelet with a watch
Another great way your should style your tennis bracelet is with watches. Stylish, functional and incredibly smart, watches are a great way to add some timeless sophistication to your look. Watches also help bring an essence of luxury on all sorts of occasions from casual outings and days at the office to dressy evening events. And with so many incredibly innovative designs out there, watches are pretty much a unique piece of jewellery on their own. But while watches may seem like too much of a statement piece to wear with other jewellery, don't let this assumption get the better of you as there is a myriad of ways that you can pair your watch with some of the jewellery in your collection-including tennis bracelets.
One trick to remember when coordinating your watch with your tennis bracelet is to find a colour and stick with it. If your tennis bracelet is in a gold setting, find a gold watch to wear with it. Alternatively, if your bracelet has a silver or white gold exterior, opt for a silver stainless steel watch. You can mix similar tones such as rose gold and yellow gold, however, you should try and keep them the same to provide a more seamless look. To avoid your look becoming too cluttered or distracting, you should also avoid wearing too many pieces as well as bracelets that are too thick. A general rule of thumb is two bracelets at a time, the tennis bracelet and another very fine bracelet along with a watch that isn't too bulky. If you are eager to stack your tennis bracelet with a watch, you should avoid doing so with a watch made of leather. Leather watches and even nylon or silicone watches such as Baby-G watches are too much of a statement piece on their own to pair with jewellery and unlike watches with stainless steel mesh bands, link bands or hinge bands, they tend not to blend in as well with pieces such as tennis bracelets.
Now that you know the ins and outs of the tennis watch including how to style them, discover a huge range of sophisticated and timeless tennis watches and more in-store and online today at Grahams. Explore our sale jewellery collection to nab yourself a pretty spectacular bargain and receive free shipping with orders over $69. Sparkle now and pay later with our various finance options including Afterpay, Zip, humm, Klarna, Laybuy, and Latitude Interest Free.
