Diamond tennis bracelets are a relatively recent creation; the first diamond bracelet was awarded at the U.S. Open in 1987.

Some jewelry has curious names, and it is not always easy to trace the origin of these names. A tennis bracelet is an example of this; why on earth would such a delicate diamond bracelet be called a tennis bracelet when it has nothing to do with tennis?

Tennis bracelet is a term used to describe the diamond line bracelet that American tennis player Chris Evert wore while competing in the 1978 U.S. Open. During the match, her diamond bracelet fell off onto the court. She shouted “I’ve dropped my tennis bracelet”.

After the match was paused while players and officials searched for a bracelet belonging to a player, jewelers soon received a flood of requests for tennis bracelets. Since that time, these bracelets have come to be known as “tennis bracelets.”

In recent years, however, manufacturers have strengthened the fastenings on these bracelets with a more secure clasp, so similar incidents will not occur again.

Fancy colored gemstones, such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds can make striking jewelry. This type of jewelry is usually more contemporary than a traditional tennis bracelet, which is set with white diamonds.