Worth It: Tennis Bracelets
Fine jewelry holds a lot of value—both sentimental and monetary—and the right piece will appreciate in both ways over time. Here, our recommendations of heirloom-worthy investments to grace your jewelry box now, and pass on to future generations. Enjoy, forever.
Photo credit: @thelastlinela
Meet your match
Tennis bracelets are about as classic as they come. And these elegant, simple sparklers have ornamented the wrists of the smart set from actress Mary Duncan in the 1920s to the Duchess of Sussex (aka Meghan Markle) today.
But tennis bracelets weren’t always known as such. Once upon a time, they were known as “eternity bracelets,” the wristwear counterpart to the perpetually popular eternity band. When clasped, an eternity bracelet forms a never-ending circle of diamonds, symbolizing everlasting love.
Enter tennis superstar Chris Evert in 1978. In a feat of fashion derring-do, she fatefully paired her own diamond eternity bracelet with her tennis whites at the U.S. Open. As she let fly a particularly powerful swing, her bracelet went flying, too. The match had to be stopped until the sparkler was located; in the aftermath, the term “tennis bracelet” came to be.
The simplicity of a tennis bracelet is part of its enduring appeal. It easily pairs with other jewelry, evening attire, jeans, and, yes, even athletic-wear. For real gold and diamond options, prices run the gamut from four to seven figures—but the investment is well worth it. These materials are beloved for their strength and beauty, just like Chris Evert herself. Her indelible twist on the tale adds an element of empowerment to the bracelet’s already-powerful symbol of love.
Picture credit: @esbestshopping
Editor: Gail Goldberg
Wordsmith: Rebecca Daly
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