The 2017 Wimbledon Tennis Championships have begun and are arguably the most exclusive sporting event of the Summer. A befitting time, perhaps to delve into the history of the phenomenon of tennis bracelets...
From bangle to band, link to link, the bracelet is one of the earliest forms of jewellery, found throughout history and can be traced back as early as 5000BC. No longer limited to the wrists of nobility, the bracelet has found its way to becoming a staple piece of a lady's jewellery collection, with none being quite as famous as the timeless tennis bracelet.
Although a popular design since the 1920s, the diamond line bracelet would go on to become immortalised in 1987 by tennis star Chris Evert. Evert was a talented athlete, who won no less than eighteen Grand Slam single tournaments in her career, including three Wimbledon Championships. She was known for her stylish on-court attire of fashionable dresses and dashing accessories- her signature piece of jewellery being an eternity bracelet: an articulated, simple continuous line of diamonds which she nicknamed ‘her tennis bracelet'. Jewellery history was made when her bracelet unclasped during an intense match and she astonished the crowds by asking the officials to stop the game until her precious bracelet was safely reclaimed. From this moment onwards, the supple and graceful links of diamond set line bracelets would thus be forever known as the ‘tennis bracelet'.
This classic and versatile piece of jewellery can be worn as a stand-alone piece or ‘stacked' next to other bracelets or indeed a watch. Traditionally featuring diamonds, this type of bracelet can also be set with coloured stones or a combination of diamonds and coloured gemstones.