Tennis Chains – A Guide to Diamond Tennis Necklaces

Tennis chains are diamond necklaces with a continuous arrangement of diamonds set along a chain of Gold or Platinum.

Where does the name ‘Tennis’ chain come from?

The name originates from the diamond tennis bracelet, named after the world-famous tennis player Chris Evert. At the 1987 US Open, Chris Evert lost her diamond bracelet during the middle of a match.

After pausing the match, she searched for this missing bracelet under the public eye. From that day, the classic diamond line bracelet became known as the ‘Tennis’ bracelet. Today, we use this term and apply it to diamond line bracelets and diamond tennis necklaces.

Precious metals.

Jewellers make diamond tennis chains in a variety of precious metals. For example, platinum, 18-carat gold, 14-carat gold, 9-carat gold and occasionally silver. Many jewellers favour 18-carat gold. However, this denser, more luxurious choice carries a much higher price tag.

Necklace styles.

Tennis chains vary in many ways. Firstly by style. Classic styles feature diamonds in claw settings arranged in a row.

In fact, they look almost identical to shorter bracelet designs. Conversely, most feature a graduation of diamond sizes.

The following video shows a great example, designed with a graduation in diamond sizes.

Diamond sizes and budgets.

Because of differing budgets, many jewellers offer a choice of carat weights. For example, some jewellers create chains in a choice of diamond weights.

Based on a traditional, claw-set graduation in 18ct Gold, set with natural diamonds.

For example, these might appear as follows:

8 carats. 123 diamonds, graduating from 4.7mm to 2mm in size. (Starting price £15,000)

10 carats. 115 diamonds, graduating from 4.7mm to 2.2mm in size. (Starting price £20,000)

13 carats. 101 diamonds, graduating from 5.5mm to 2.3mm size. (Starting price £25,000)

16 carats. 99 diamonds, graduating from 5.5mm to 2.5mm size. (Starting at £34,000)

20 carats. 91 diamonds, graduating from 5.6mm to 3.0mm size. (Starting at £40,000)

24 carats. 89 diamonds, graduating from 5.6mm to 3.2mm size. (Starting at £57,000)

30 carats. 81 diamonds, graduating from 6.5mm to 3.7mm size. (Starting at £70,000)

40 carats. 69 diamonds, graduating from 6.7mm to 3.7mm size. (Starting at £120,000)

Lab-grown diamond tennis chains

Alternatively, the above prices reduce significantly by use of lab-grown diamonds instead of natural diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds offer consumers a true-diamond alternative to natural diamonds. Furthermore, they provide a much lower price tag somewhere between 50%-60% less than natural diamonds.

At the same time, lab-created diamonds can offer ethical diamond alternative.

Setting styles for necklaces

Next, settings for tennis chains may vary in a similar way to simple engagement ring settings. For instance, claw set, or rub-over bezel set.

At the same time, diamonds might be equally sized. Or, sizes might graduate from small to larger in the middle.

Other designs offer a more styled appearance. For example, the necklace might feature a specific shape.

To illustrate this, the following design leads the eye to the largest diamond positioned along the centreline.

Example guide price £5000 (1.75-carats 18ct White Gold).

In contrast, our next example provides a uniform appearance. Each link is identical with matching diamond sizes spaced by sections of the chain.

The only difference arises from the same design available in a choice of carat weights. For example, 1-carat, 1.25 carats, 1.5-carats and 2-carats.

Example 1-carat in 18ct White Gold. £3300.

Finally, some diamond tennis chains double-up with multiple diamond rows. The following example narrows to a single row at the back of the neck.

Example. 5-carats in 18ct White Gold. £12,000.

Men’s tennis chains

With the rise of the Hip-Hop fashion and diamond ‘bling’ diamond chains often appear around the neck of rap stars and musicians.

Richard Mille, Patek Phillipe, Rolex… today’s rap lyrics seem to double as a roll-call for luxury watch brands. Every other rap song mentions ice, drip, or baguette diamonds as if the ultimate status of success is a neck laden in diamonds.

Voltamagazine “Drippin’ in Ice“.

Interestingly, many producers of costume jewellery mimic rapper-style necklaces with the appearance of diamonds. For example, base metal or sterling silver alternative set with cubic-zirconia.

For many of our jewellery designs, we work with Moissanite. This ethical diamond alternative would work well set into 9ct Gold.

Diamond colours, clarities and certification.

When it comes to diamond quality, we create most line necklaces with a slight variation of diamond clarity. Similarly, colours vary slightly. For instance, we often work to G-H colour and I1 clarity. Similarly, our next grade up is G-H colour and SI clarity.

Owing to the high carat weights, many buyers choose a lower clarity than a single diamond set into an engagement ring.

But, for anyone seeking a clear, white set of diamonds, we suggest G colour and SI clarity, set into 18ct Gold. Coupled with its allergy friendly purity, 18ct Gold offers a more durable setting for diamonds.

Likewise, Platinum works well. However, Platinum can be heavy, and expensive. Fancy diamond colours combine well with some metal choices. For example, brown diamonds set into Rose Gold.

Princess diamond tennis chains.

At this point, we must discuss diamond shapes. Despite its popularity, not all tennis chains feature round diamonds. In fact, square Princess cut diamonds make a popular choice. Other shapes include Baguette cut diamonds, Pear-shaped diamonds and Oval-cut diamonds.

Ornate diamond tennis necklaces.

Many of our necklace designs offer a stylish alternative to traditional designs. For example, the Barleycorn diamond necklace shown here in 18ct Yellow Gold. Set with 2.6cts of natural diamonds, this statement necklace offers a refreshing alternative to line necklace styles.

Example set in 18ct Yellow Gold with 2.6cts of diamonds. Approx. £9,000.