The Tennis Bracelet

There are few, if any, jewelry origin stories with as much spontaneity, spunk and staying power as the tennis bracelet. It all started in 1978 during an early round of the US Open when American tennis legend Chris Evert was rising in the ranks and she had a mishap on the court that changed the jewelry lexicon forever. 

Her delicate diamond and gold bracelet, a piece she had purchased for herself, fell off and play was stopped so she could  nd it. “I remember everything about that day,” says Evert. “The green court. The white lines. My diamond bracelet and the dripping sweat of competition. My diamond bracelet was something that re ected my personal style when I was competing on the court.”

“After the match I walked off the court for my interview, and they asked me about it, and I said, ‘Oh, that was my tennis bracelet.”

Once attention was drawn to the fact that the tennis star was playing her matches in diamonds, people were bemused and impressed. The rest of the story is jewelry history. Over the years, the style has become increasingly popular with each passing generation.