Is there any arm candy more riveting, or more dazzling, than a full-on sparkling tennis bracelet—or an armload of them—glinting in the sun? Full disclosure—I have never been anywhere near a racket, though I have been known to affect an all-white V-neck sweater-and-long-pleated-skirt tennis look—but that doesn’t mean I don’t know the best tennis bracelets when I see them. Whether it’s the classic line of diamonds (big ones, please!) or lab-grown gems (who is going to know the difference as your tennis bracelet dangles over a highball?) or in a riot of color, these are jewels to be cherished regardless of your athletic prowess.
Vogue’s Favorite Tennis Bracelets
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You might be wondering how the tennis bracelet—which refers to a flexible bracelet with the stones lined up, hugging each other—got its name. As the story goes, back in 1978, world champion Chris Evert was wearing just such a tennis bracelet in diamonds and gold at the US Open, when the bracelet itself opened! Just as I—or you—would have done, Evert stopped the match cold until her tennis bracelet turned up.
Evert is not the only player to flaunt a tennis bracelet. Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams have been known to sport high-end models. Fun fact: Williams once wore a $29,000 Harry Winston tennis bracelet to a game. (No reports of it being lost between serves.)
Though it may not be practical to pile them on while on the court, tennis bracelets make wonderful stackers. In all widths and weights, featuring gemstones, real and not-so, super clear or colorful, don’t be afraid to line them up from wrist to elbow.
Here is our guide to the brightest and best tennis bracelets, on and off the clay:
Classic Diamond Tennis Bracelets
The forever piece: a lithe line of matched diamonds that skims the wrist and goes with absolutely everything. Look for tight, low-profile settings, a discreet safety clasp, and uniform stones for that sleek, light-catching glide. Wear it solo for polish or stack it with a watch for quiet-luxury shorthand.
Lab-Grown Tennis Bracelets
All the sparkle, more stone for your spend. Lab-grown diamonds deliver the same chemistry and fire as mined—often letting you size up in carat or upgrade claritys. Ideal for a first “everyday diamond” or a guilt-free second strand in a stack.
Colorful Tennis Bracelets
Spin the classic into technicolor—think sapphires, rubies, emeralds, or ombré rainbow mixes that read joyful, not juvenile. A single vivid row pops against neutrals; layered, it telegraphs taste and confidence. Bonus: colored gems make great travel stand-ins for your all-diamond piece.
Quirky Tennis Bracelets
Tennis, but make it cheeky—mixed cuts, asymmetric spacing, bezel links, or playful motifs (hearts, stars, initials) that wink without shouting. These styles keep the line’s elegance while adding personality—perfect next to a classic rivière for a high-low, “collectsed” stack.
