Our Favourite Tennis Bracelets & Their Meaning
Is it too early for a sprinkle of Christmas sparkle? Of course not! Whether you’re an early gifter or can’t wait for all the sparkle that party season will bring, we know it’s the staple tennis bracelet's time to shine. A truly timeless piece of jewellery that’s been loved for years, we’re here to explain how the diamond tennis bracelet got its name, the different styles, along with our favourites. Because if you’re looking for Christmas jewellery to gift to someone glamorous, we’re sure a tennis bracelet is at the top of their wish-list.
We’re firm believers that a tennis bracelet should belong in everyone’s jewellery box, as we know there’s always room for extra sparkle. So, whether you love the dramatic shine and lots of glamour of a Swarovski tennis bracelet, or want to gift a diamond tennis bracelet to someone special, we think your loved one is going to adore tennis bracelets. For more sparkle season inspiration for Christmas, New Year’s and your other festive occasions, discover our Sparkling Party Jewellery edit.
What is a tennis bracelet?
Loved not just at Christmas but all year round, dressed up or down, tennis bracelets add so much style and just the right amount of sparkle to any outfit - pair yours with jeans and evening dresses alike.
Everyone’s staple piece of Christmas party jewellery, a tennis bracelet is a row of continuous stones, whether it’s diamonds, cubic zirconia or crystals. Set on a slender bracelet made of the most precious metals, they are designed to create a stunning sparkle.
The diamonds in our selection of tennis bracelets are carefully hand-selected by our experts, to make sure your diamond tennis bracelet always has the highest quality, longevity, and most brilliant sparkle. Curated meticulously so that they radiate together in a perfect setting, our tennis bracelets are crafted with the fit and feel that you deserve, so you can treasure your Christmas diamond jewellery forever. Our silver tennis bracelets are carefully set with cubic zirconia, perfectly matched to complement each other to ensure that the look, fit and feel of each bracelet is just right.
Why is it called a tennis bracelet?
Before they were named tennis bracelets, these sparkling jewels were known as either “line diamond bracelets” or “eternity bracelets”. This is because they were given as a gift of your eternal love and a way of saying “I love you” to your partner.
The name “tennis bracelet” emerged later, and actually came from Chris Evert who was the World No. 1 tennis player from 1979 to 1987. As you can imagine, a diamond bracelet wasn’t then a common accessory for a tennis player to wear during a match in the US Open, so when Chris Evert stopped the match due to her diamond bracelet falling off in the middle of the game, the name ‘tennis bracelet’ stuck and has stayed with it ever since.
Diamond tennis bracelets
Our diamond tennis bracelets are crafted with the utmost care and expertise, and over a century of knowledge goes into perfecting the fit, feel, and look of each one. So you can give a Christmas jewellery gift that they can truly treasure forever.
“We hand select every diamond individually so it sits just right, and so the array of diamonds complement each other for a magical sparkle. We consider each of the 4 Cs when curating our diamond jewellery, so that each diamond is as breathtaking as the next. Set into the finest materials such as 18ct white gold, your diamond tennis bracelet makes the ultimate treasure-forever piece of jewellery.” - Lorna, Head of Diamonds and Jewellery.
To learn more about diamonds and the 4 Cs, discover our helpful Diamond Buying Guide.
We’ve paired this stunning OMEGA Constellation 29mm 18K Sedna Gold Diamond Automatic Ladies Watch with our dazzling 18ct White Gold Diamond Tennis Bracelet. The diamond-set bezel that frames the watch dial matches the gold tennis bracelet perfectly, and creates double the amount of sparkle. We’re loving this look for a dressed up style both day and night. They make the ultimate luxury Christmas gifts to open (and wear) on the big day!
The best way to wear a tennis bracelet with your watch is by placing the bracelet closest to your hand, with the watch slightly further up your wrist. When choosing a watch to wear with your tennis bracelet, we’d recommend wearing a designer watch with a fashion or silver tennis bracelet, and a luxury watch with your diamond tennis bracelet. Also look out for watches with sparkle around the bezel, or diamond dot hour markers, as they complement a tennis bracelet perfectly.
“A chic watch with a tennis bracelet is perfect for making your outfit shine, and if you’re going for bold, opt for a luxury watch to match.” - Courtney, Jewellery Buyer.
This 18ct White Gold Diamond Tennis Bracelet showcases a line of breathtaking diamonds, exuding timeless elegance with a truly luxurious finish. Crafted in lustrous 18ct white gold, it’s a Christmas jewellery gift they’ll adore for a lifetime.
From Hearts On Fire, this Hearts On Fire Temptation 18ct White Gold Diamond Tennis Bracelet is sculpted in 18ct white gold and adorned with the brand’s stunning perfectly cut diamonds. Alluring and radiating with brilliance, it’s the perfect tennis bracelet if you want to gift your loved one something truly special.
Sparkling silver tennis bracelets
If you’re looking for a sparkling tennis bracelet for a Christmas jewellery gift but not wanting to spend too much, our sterling silver tennis bracelet collection is perfect for your all your celebrations. Opt for a tennis bracelet with Swarovski crystals, or our silver tennis bracelets feature a sparkling array of cubic zirconia, each one hand-selected, cut, and set to give your tennis bracelet a beautiful sparkle. Sculpted in sterling silver of the highest quality, we’re certain you’ll achieve the shine you’re looking for, to complement all your outfits stunningly.
We love stacking the sparkle, and our Silver Cubic Zirconia Heart Tennis Bracelet goes perfectly with this Swarovski Subtle White Crystal Bracelet. The heart-shaped design makes the perfect Christmas gift for someone special, whilst the Swarovski tennis bracelet has a beautiful array of smaller and larger stones for a twist on the original. We’re obsessed with this look when paired with sparkly evening dresses for party season.
We’re loving this shining Sif Jakobs Ellera Grande Silver Cubic Zirconia Tennis Bracelet. A sterling silver backdrop encapsulates a sparkling row of cubic zirconia for a truly mesmerising finish. It’s a beautiful Christmas jewellery gift that can be stacked or worn solo.
A truly glamorous tennis bracelet gift, this Silver Cubic Zirconia Cluster Tennis Bracelet showcases a line of sparkling cubic zirconia in a cluster design. Set in a pristine sterling silver backdrop, its shine is sure to capture your loved one’s heart.
Colourful tennis bracelets
“Christmas jewellery styling calls for the most extravagant pieces, and what better way to flaunt a show-stopping look than with both sparkle and colour? A gemstone tennis bracelet is perfect for this, especially the tanzanite and topaz stones which are the birthstones for November and December.” - Debbie, Beaverbrooks Brand Ambassador.
We love this Silver Cubic Zirconia Multi-Coloured Slider Bracelet for its array of purple, pink and blue coloured cubic zirconia. With a sterling silver backdrop, it’s the perfect way to brighten up their (or your) Christmas party style.
A must-have for festive season is colour, and what better staple jewellery piece to inject some colour into than a rainbow tennis bracelet? Showcasing an array of multi-colours, this 9ct White Gold Diamond Gemstone Tennis Bracelet is a Christmas jewellery gift they’ll treasure all year round.
Is pink your favourite colour? Swarovski have the rainbow tennis bracelet for you. This Swarovski Matrix Pink Tennis Bracelet adds a hint of baby pink sparkle to your Christmas party jewellery looks, perfect for stacking with other colourful tennis bracelet for maximum style, like the Swarovski Matrix Blue Tennis bracelet or the Swarovski Matrix Gold Tennis Bracelet.
Tennis necklaces
If you’re going for an all-out shine, complete your Christmas party jewellery look and match your tennis bracelet with a beautiful tennis necklace. Perfect for an array of sparkle, co-ordinate your shining chains with a tennis bracelet and necklace set. We love this Silver Pear-Shaped Cubic Zirconia Necklace as a statement tennis necklace - it’s iconic!
“A tennis necklace features a row of stunning diamonds, cubic zirconia or crystals, and is worn as a collarette. I love the style of a tennis necklace - they really complement a dress or top with a lower neckline. Perfect for party season styling, I’ll wear mine with my other bejewelled pieces and outfits. The perfect match for sparkle is always more sparkle! ” - Debbie, Beaverbrooks Brand Ambassador.
Leading the way in tennis necklaces is Sif Jakobs, and this Sif Jakobs Ellera Grande Silver Cubic Zirconia Tennis Necklace is perfect for you, whether you’re wanting to dress up or down through the festivities (and beyond).
This Swarovski Imber Crystal Tennis Necklace is the ultimate piece for sparkle season, showcasing a breathtaking row of Swarovski crystals. With its adjustable clasp, you can adjust the length to suit your neckline perfectly.
Tennis bracelet styles, settings & clasps
Tennis bracelets can all have a different look and feel based on the setting, style and clasp design. Each type of setting is designed to hold the stones securely in place on the tennis bracelet, but will create a different overall appearance.
Tennis bracelet settings
Prong: A popular choice, up to four prongs per stone are used to hold the stone in place on the tennis bracelet, allowing as much light as possible to pass through and create the most amazing sparkle. This type of setting is seen in this 18ct White Gold Diamond Tennis Bracelet.
Channel: The stones sit between two thin rows of metal on the tennis bracelet, keeping them tight and secure together.
Bezel: Metal individually surrounds each of the stones on the tennis bracelet to create a bubble appearance.
Tennis bracelet clasps
When it comes to clasps, there’s four famous ones used on tennis bracelets. Spring clasp and lobster clasp, which are both triggered by pulling back a lever, a box clasp which locks into place, or a slider clasp which is easily adjustable. Our Silver Cubic Zirconia Tennis Slider Bracelet features a slider clasp for quick styling.
When choosing a tennis bracelet to give as a Christmas jewellery gift, think about your loved one’s jewellery style. Do they prefer silver or gold? Would they wear something with colourful stones, sparkling cubic zirconia or dazzling diamonds? For a gift they’ll never want to take off, we recommend choosing a tennis bracelet that matches the jewellery they already have. For more Christmas jewellery and watch gifting tips, discover How To Find The Perfect Christmas Gifts, As Explained By Our Experts.
Cleaning your diamond tennis bracelet is an essential step to keeping it dazzling. We recommend using our Diamond Dazzle Stik for cleaning all those hard-to-reach areas around the settings in your tennis bracelet. The cleaning gel contains micro-fine cleansers and polishing agents, and the brush is perfect for capturing every part of each diamond. Visit our Jewellery Cleaning Guide for more tips and advice.
For more Christmas gifting inspiration, discover all Christmas. Found these styling tips helpful? Share with us how you’re wearing your tennis bracelets over on our Instagram by tagging @beaverbrooksthejewellers and #ByBeaverbrooks.
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