Tennis jewelry
Tennis jewelry is a single, flexible row of matching stones: a bracelet, a necklace, or at men's lengths a tennis chain. On Amazon the line comes in moissanite (the most sparkle for the money and the default for men's chains), lab-grown diamond, natural diamond, and lab ruby, sapphire and emerald for colour. Whatever the stone, the part that decides whether you keep it is the clasp: buy a box clasp with a safety latch, in sterling silver or solid gold.
The guides
Which stone for a tennis line
| Stone | Hardness (Mohs) | What it is | Typical price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moissanite | 9.25 | Most fire of any stone here; the default for men's iced chains | Low |
| Lab diamond | 10 | Real diamond, graded like mined diamond | Mid to high |
| Natural diamond | 10 | Mined; holds value better, costs far more | High |
| Lab sapphire / ruby | 9 | Real corundum; colour at silver prices | Low |
| Lab emerald | 7.5 to 8 | Real beryl; softer and brittle, choose bezels | Low to mid |
| Cubic zirconia | 8 to 8.5 | Imitation; scratches and clouds over time | Lowest |
Four checks before you buy any tennis line
- The stone is named honestly: moissanite, lab-grown diamond, lab-created ruby or sapphire. "Simulated" means an imitation such as cubic zirconia or glass.
- The clasp: a box clasp with at least one safety latch. Tennis lines are lost when a clasp opens, which is how the style got its name.
- The metal: 925 sterling silver or solid gold. Plated brass wears through; for a never-take-it-off piece, see waterproof stainless steel.
- The length: wrist plus about 1 cm for a bracelet; 16 to 18 inches for a women's necklace; 20 to 22 inches for a men's chain.
Browse on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tennis jewelry?
A single, continuous row of matching stones, each in its own setting, linked so the line is flexible. A tennis bracelet, tennis necklace and tennis chain are the same design at different lengths.
Why is it called a tennis bracelet?
At the 1978 US Open, Chris Evert's diamond line bracelet came off during a match and play stopped while it was found. The name stuck to the style, whatever the stone.
Which stone is best for a tennis bracelet?
For sparkle on a budget, moissanite. For real diamond, lab-grown, which costs far less than mined. For colour, lab sapphire or ruby, both as hard as they come after diamond. Lab emerald is lovely but softer, so it wants protective settings and gentle wear.
What is the difference between a tennis necklace and a tennis chain?
Only the name and usually the size: "tennis necklace" is the common term for women's pieces, and "tennis chain" for men's, which tend to be longer with bigger stones.
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