The tennis bracelet is a diamond bracelet characterized by a continuous line of diamonds set in a single row. The bracelet gets its name from an incident during a tennis match in the 1987 US Open when professional tennis player Chris Evert's diamond bracelet fell off her wrist mid-game. She paused the match to search for it, and the media widely reported the incident.
The term "tennis bracelet" was coined shortly after the incident and has since become a popular term for this type of diamond bracelet. However, the style of a continuous line of diamonds set in a single row has been around for much longer. Similar bracelets can be seen in vintage jewelry dating back to the early 20th century.
The popularity of the tennis bracelet skyrocketed in the 1990s and 2000s, and it has since become a classic and timeless piece of jewelry. Tennis bracelets can be made with various precious metals and gemstones, although diamonds are the most common choice. They are often given as gifts for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, or weddings and are considered a symbol of luxury and sophistication.
