Friday 11 June 2010

History of Tennis Bracelets


In the later part of the 20th century, items like tennis bracelets made their debut. In the early days, the bracelet was a chain called an eternity bracelet, sometimes with a name engraved on it, such as the one Cesar Romero wore in the 1920’s. The name “tennis bracelet” however, was attributed to the famous 1987 US Open that Chris Evert halted, in order to retrieve her in line diamond bracelet, created by George Bedewi.

This bracelet immediately became popular and jewelers everywhere were creating the bracelet with in line diamonds–now known as the “tennis bracelet”– to supply the growing demand. No matter what they’re called, though, they are a timeless piece of elegance that will be handed down from generation to generation. They enhance the wrists of people, young and old; rich and not so rich.

There are bracelets that can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars, and there are creations that can cost only dollars. No matter what your budget, you can find a tennis bracelet that suits your needs and will forever look graceful on your wrist.

Tennis Bracelets Still a Hit

It's hard to keep up with all the jewelry trends that come and go so quickly, but the tennis bracelet is a piece that is both classic and glamorous. It continues to pop up on the fashion radar and adorns the arm of major movie stars and musicians from Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johanson to Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani. The tennis bracelet is timeless and versatile, and here, we'll give you some tips to keep the look modern and choose the best bracelet for your style and budget.Tennis Bracelets
The beautiful thing about tennis bracelets is that diamonds adorn the bracelet from all angles, creating a symmetrical and eye-catching piece that adds elegance and sparkle. If you can't afford to invest in real diamonds, there are some great CZ alternatives which offer as much shine as the real thing. Consider what size stones would best suit your look and what color you'd be able to wear with the pieces of your wardrobe. The cut is the most important element to this polished piece. Consider princess, round or baguette cut. Don't rule out the more modern youthful takes on tennis bracelets, which include trillion (triangular) cut stones or even star shaped settings.Tennis BraceletsYour tennis bracelet should fit a little loose, giving you about one finger of room between your wrist and the bracelet. How you wear it is up to you. The versatility of this piece means that it could easily be an everyday accessory, just like a watch. However, for those of us that prefer to save our glam for the nighttime, this bracelet is a fun accessory for special events and nights out. The leading ladies of Hollywood often choose to wear tennis bracelets as a single accessory to adorn a sparkly floor length gown. This year, it's all about layering. Don't be afraid to wear multiple tennis bracelets to create an eye-catching look.

Origin of the Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Origin of the Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Tennis BraceletThe origin of the Diamond Tennis Bracelet is related back to when famous tennis player Chris Evert lost her diamond bracelet during a match. Chris Evert was a professional tennis player from 1972 to 1989. During a tennis match, the clasp on her diamond bracelet snapped causing it to fall off. When the clasp snapped, she asked the game officials to pause the tennis match until her jewelry could be located. Ever since that day, line diamond bracelets have been coined "tennis bracelets".

Currently, when shopping around for a diamond tennis bracelet, there are many different styles to choose from. If you prefer a vintage or antique looking bracelet, you should be able to find a large amount of bracelets that have a vintage look and feel to them. Maybe the detailing on the bracelet setting is ornate or the antique stone shape is unique. However, if something more modern or streamlined is your taste, a classic tennis bracelet can be located simply by taking the time to look around. Once you find the style you want, it should be easy to comparison shop. Also, diamond tennis bracelets can be mixed with gemstones for that added pop of visual interest and color.

The largest collection of diamond bracelet selection can be found when searching online. With just a few simple steps you can view diamond tennis bracelets, vintage diamond bracelets, gemstone bracelets, red carpet glamor bracelets, men's bracelets, simple gold or platinum bracelets, and other items such as diamond necklaces, diamond pendants, diamond earrings, stud earrings, journey jewelry, anniversary, wedding and bridal rings.

When looking to buy a very classic piece of jewelry, a tennis bracelet is a great option. With such an assortment of styles available now, anyone can enjoy wearing a tennis bracelet. Whether you are active like a tennis player, going to the opera, dressing nice for work, or out on a date, a bracelet on the wrist is an accessory that instantly adds sparkle and intrigue to the outfit.

By Marilyn Deschamps

Thursday 10 June 2010

Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Ever wondered where the diamond tennis bracelet started? The diamond tennis bracelet has an interesting history and as a piece of beautiful jewelry it is unparalleled. Let's take a look at how this beautiful bracelet began and what custom design options are being created today.

Is It Just A Diamond Bracelet?
Diamond bracelets have been popular for a long very long time. The wrist is an ideal location to display the beauty and sparkle of diamonds, as the movement of the hand helps display the brilliance of light as it plays with the cut of your gemstones. There are various settings and clasps that can be used with a diamond bracelet, and must be considered carefully, as you might have significant value both emotionally if it was a valued gift and also in terms of dollar value. You don't want to find yourself losing your favorate piece of jewelry because of a poor clasp.

The Diamond Tennis Bracelet is Born
Chris Evert, the famous professional tennis player, did just that, lost her diamond tennis bracelet during an intense match with her opponent. Having discovered that the clasp to her bracelet broke during play, she asked the officials to hold the match until they were able to find her bracelet. Highly publicized and viewed, the association quickly became popular and now these wrist pieces are typically referred to as diamond tennis bracelets.
There are a wide selection of styles for this popular form of diamond jewelry in existence today, limited only by the creativity of the jeweler and the public's demand. You may prefer embellished tennis bracelet sets, vintage diamond bracelets, custom designer diamond bracelets, or antique bracelets. There are many options to choose from and much depends on your style and taste, though, in my experience, any of the above make an impressive and appreciated gift.

Men's AND Women's Diamond Bracelets
Another interesting aspect of the diamond bracelets development over time is the increase in men's bracelet popularity, they are not just for women any more. You can typically choose between platinum, white gold, or yellow gold for the bracelet set itself, and your selection of loose diamonds for placement will have a good deal of impact on your jewelry pieces beauty, desirability and value. As diamond jewelry is concerned the diamond tennis bracelet is here to stay as a hugely popular and beautiful means of showing your love or appreciation as a gift. One need not play tennis to appreciate the beauty and ownership of these custom diamond jewelry pieces.

Make the right choice for your diamond tennis bracelet, and check out our free guide on how to buy a diamond. Talk to our expert gemologists for free recommendations and information on how to find the best diamond for your most special moments. Whether you are looking for an anniversary ring, loose diamonds for an engagement ring, or just need the perfect gift for that special someone, we can help you get the perfect custom diamond jewelry for the perfect occasion.

Why Are Diamond Bracelets Called Tennis Bracelets?

t's not often that a piece of jewelry is named for an accident, but such is the case with tennis bracelets. They got their unusual name from an incident involving professional tennis player Chris Evert during a match in 1987. Evert had been wearing an expensive bracelet featuring an inline string of individually-set diamonds. When the clasp snapped, she asked the officials to stop the match until the jewelry could be found. Since that day, bracelets featuring an inline array of diamonds have been called tennis bracelets.

Tennis bracelets are popular accessories for formal occasions due to their luster and sparkle. Individual diamonds (or reasonable facsimiles) are placed in square settings and then strung into a bracelet held together by a clasp. The settings and support wiring may be constructed from silver or other quality jewelry metal. The individual settings allow tennis bracelets to move comfortably while worn.

Other types of jewelry that share the form of these bracelets are referred to as tennis-style. Groups of different sized stones may be used in tennis-style bracelets, but the jewelry retains the inline look of original tennis bracelets. Classic such bracelets tend to feature a uniform arrangement of diamonds and can be very expensive.

One important element of well-constructed tennis bracelets is the safety latch. The clasp of a typical such bracelet depends on a springy metal latch meshing securely with a hook. Over time, this clasp style can become less reliable. Therefore, jewelry designers include a secondary security measure in these bracelets. The two most common styles of safety latches are chains and 'figure eights.'

The chain safety latch connects from one small stud to another on the other side of the main clasp. If the main clasp fails, the chain should hold the bracelet intact until it can be repaired. The figure eight safety latch is a small double loop of metal. One loop snaps over a small post on one side of the main clasp, while the other loop snaps over a similar post on the opposite side. Even if the main clasp separates, the figure eight loops will keep tennis bracelets from falling off.

These bracelets should be custom fitted for maximum security and comfort. Tennis bracelets which fit too loosely can become snagged and pulled. Overly snug tennis bracelets can chafe the skin and become stretched to the point of breakage. An ideal fit allows one finger to pass easily between the bracelet and wrist.

What are Tennis Bracelets?

It's not often that a piece of jewelry is named for an accident, but such is the case with tennis bracelets. Tennis bracelets got their unusual name from an incident involving professional tennis player Chris Evert during a match in 1987. Evert had been wearing an expensive bracelet featuring an inline string of individually-set diamonds. When the clasp snapped, she asked the officials to stop the match until the jewelry could be found. Since that day, bracelets featuring an inline array of diamonds have been called tennis bracelets.

Tennis bracelets are popular accessories for formal occasions due to their luster and sparkle. Individual diamonds (or reasonable facsimiles) are placed in square settings and then strung into a bracelet held together by a clasp. The settings and support wiring may be constructed from silver or other quality jewelry metal. The individual settings allow tennis bracelets to move comfortably while worn.

Other types of jewelry that share the form of tennis bracelets are referred to as tennis-style. Groups of different sized stones may be used in tennis-style bracelets, but the jewelry retains the inline look of original tennis bracelets. Classic tennis bracelets tend to feature a uniform arrangement of diamonds and can be very expensive.

One important element of well-constructed tennis bracelets is the safety latch. The clasp of a typical tennis bracelet depends on a springy metal latch meshing securely with a hook. Over time, this clasp style can become less reliable. Therefore, jewelry designers include a secondary security measure in tennis bracelets. The two most common styles of safety latches are chains and 'figure eights.'

The chain safety latch connects from one small stud to another on the other side of the main clasp. If the main clasp fails, the chain should hold the bracelet intact until it can be repaired. The figure eight safety latch is a small double loop of metal. One loop snaps over a small post on one side of the main clasp, while the other loop snaps over a similar post on the opposite side. Even if the main clasp separates, the figure eight loops will keep tennis bracelets from falling off.

Tennis bracelets should be custom fitted for maximum security and comfort. Tennis bracelets which fit too loosely can become snagged and pulled. Overly snug tennis bracelets can chafe the skin and become stretched to the point of breakage. An ideal fit allows one finger to pass easily between the bracelet and wrist.