Did you know that at the Wimbledon championships, an astonishing 320,000 glasses of Pimm’s are served and 140,000 servings of freshly-picked strawberries? Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, with millions around the world tuning in to watch. So to celebrate this most British of traditions, we’re looking at THE Wimbledon must-have accessory, the tennis bracelet.
So what is a ‘tennis bracelet’?
If you don’t already know, a tennis bracelet is another word for an inline eternity bracelet. With an unbroken row of gemstones encircling the wrist, set into gold or silver with serpentine linkwork allowing both rigidity and flexibility. Traditionally small Diamonds were used, but coloured gemstones are becoming more popular and are more affordable. Alternating gemstones or graduated colours are also sometimes used, creating a beautiful contrast.
The clasps are traditionally ‘tongue-in-box’ (ideally with extra safety catches), but lobster-claw catches with links allow for length adjustment.
So why is it called a ‘tennis bracelet’?
Inline bracelets have been popular since at least the Victorian era, however they didn’t gain their nickname until 1987. During the US Open, former World No 1 Chris Evert caused a stir by asking officials to stop her match so that she could find her Diamond bracelet, which had come off. The ‘tennis bracelet’ was born. Being lightweight and flexible make it ideal for playing sports, but it is important to avoid the mistake that Evert made – always check that the clasp is secure.
Browse our tennis bracelets here.
