How to Choose the Perfect Tennis Necklace

This history and popularity of the Tennis necklace is an extension of the popular and iconic Tennis bracelet. In the summer of 1978, tennis star Chris Evert, was sporting a diamond bracelet in one of the early rounds in the U.S. Open when the bracelet suddenly broke and fell onto the ground. After this moment, the continuous-strand diamond bracelet was dubbed the “Tennis bracelet”. Since the bracelet's iconic moment in jewelry history, the Tennis bracelet and the Tennis necklace have become jewelry must haves for luxury buyers everywhere.

Today, the Tennis necklace may be even more popular than the Tennis bracelet. Many buyers are attracted to the diamond Tennis necklace because of its versatility, celebrity influence, and timeless elegance. Additionally the Tennis necklace is a perfect layering piece to pair with other diamond necklaces and pendants. The Tennis necklace is also a popular style for many celebrities looking to make a statement on the red carpet. On recent red carpets, Zendaya, Taylor Swift, and Hailey Beiber have all been photographed wearing dramatic Tennis Necklaces. The style is effortlessly glamorous and goes with everything. A diamond Tennis necklace is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for an easy timeless piece to wear from day to night.

Jewelry

Essential Buyer's Guide to Tennis Bracelets

The Tennis necklace is constructed the same way as the Tennis bracelet: a continuous strand of diamonds without any embellishments. The necklace however is just made longer to fit around the neck. Most commonly a Tennis Necklace is 16-20 inches long. The number of diamonds included depends on the size of the diamonds chosen: usually, there are around 125 diamonds on the strand. The trendiest Tennis necklace style is the shorter choker-style necklace. Diamond Tennis necklaces around 16 inches are the perfect length to sit right above the collarbone. A Tennis necklace is meant to fit close to the neckline. Another popular diamond necklace style is the diamond rivière necklace. This necklace features diamonds in a graduated pattern of diamonds with the same tennis necklace construction.

The timeless trend of the Tennis necklace has boosted in popularity over the past year. The biggest trend of summer 2024 is “Tennis Core”. Pioneered by Zendaya and her new movie “Challengers” (2024), the Tennis Core style exudes quiet luxury, tailored athleisure, and an eye for luxury. The past trends of 2023-2024 have focused on “quiet luxury” and “old money aesthetic”. The Tennis Core trend seamlessly connects these past trends by creating the ultimate summer look. Tennis Core requires a combination of expensive tailored pieces and an eye for luxury. The Tennis necklace is the ultimate symbol of this trend: it exudes luxury, wearability, and exclusivity. The Tennis necklace can be worn alone or layered with pendents and other diamond necklaces. Other common terms for the Tennis necklace include diamond line necklace, infinite necklace or eternity necklace.

Sotheby's has a curated selection of diamond Tennis necklaces available for immediate purchase on Marketplace. The most popular Tennis necklace metals white gold and platinum followed by yellow gold and rose gold. The most common diamond cut for a tennis necklace is round but other popular shapes include emerald and oval. Tennis necklaces can also combine differently diamond cuts to create a truly unique necklace. Sotheby’s tennis necklaces usually start at $11,000 for a necklace with ~ 7 carats total diamond weight and color G-J and VS-SI clarity. When searching for a classic Tennis necklace, we suggest white diamonds G-H minimum color with VS1-VS2 minimum clarity. The price is always determined by the cut, clarity, and color of the diamonds. High Jewelry diamond Tennis necklaces on Sotheby's marketplace start at $100K. These diamond necklaces weigh 25-55 carats and are usually D-F color with VVS clarity. All Diamond Tennis Necklaces on Sotheby's marketplace are made from naturally mined diamonds.

The versatile Tennis necklace can be easily styled on it’s own or layered with other classic necklaces. The diamond Tennis necklace is perfect for both formal occasions and everyday wear. It is lightweight and goes with everything. One unique way to style a Tennis necklace is to pair it with other tennis necklaces of different lengths. Diamond Tennis necklaces also pair beautifully with a Van Cleef Alhambra necklace or Cartier pendent. As pearls rise in popularity, a shorter diamond tennis necklace also pairs with a longer pearl necklace to achieve a more is more classic aesthetic. Whether you are looking for a classic everyday piece or want something to add to your necklace stack, a Tennis necklace is the perfect choice to add to your collection. The tennis necklace says effortless chic when worn alone or layered with your favorite pearls and pendant.

Sotheby's always has a selection of tennis necklaces available for immediate purchase on Marketplace starting at around $10,000. Sotheby's also has jewelry auctions in New York, Geneva, Paris, and Hong Kong annually with a curated selection of rare Tennis necklaces. You can also contact a Salon Associate in New York or Bucherer in Zurich to learn more about our selection of Diamond Tennis Necklaces at Sotheby's. If you have a Diamond Tennis Necklace with 5 carats or more total diamond weight to sell, you can contact a Jewelry Specialist to learn more about your selling options.