The Tennis Players Who Wear Fine Jewellery On Court, And the Story That Started It All

If there's one piece of jewellery that bridges the worlds of sport and fine craftsmanship, it's the tennis bracelet. It's sleek, timeless, and it has a story behind it that I genuinely love telling. So let's go back to where it all began.

It used to be called something else entirely

Before it was a tennis bracelet, it was simply known as a diamond line bracelet - a continuous row of identically set diamonds in a flexible, delicate setting. The style actually dates back to the Art Deco era, when women stacked platinum and diamond line bracelets up their wrists as a signature look of the 1920s and 30s.

They were elegant, they were refined, and they were absolutely nothing to do with sport.

That all changed at the 1978 US Open.

The moment that changed everything

Chris Evert was playing at the US Open when her diamond and gold bracelet broke mid-match, falling onto the court. Play came to a standstill while she searched for it. Afterwards, she referred to the piece as her "tennis bracelet", and the name stuck.

Although it didn't appear widely in print until the mid-1980s, Chris Evert's long-standing habit of wearing jewellery on court helped cement the connection. The jewellery industry eventually adopted the name wholesale, using it in advertising to highlight the bracelet's elegance alongside its athletic association.

What I love about this story is that it wasn't a marketing campaign or a trend piece that created an icon. It was a woman stopping a professional tennis match because she refused to lose her bracelet. Honestly? Relatable.

Chris Evert with her famed 'tennis bracelet' - Image courtesy of Vogue.co.uk

What makes a tennis bracelet a tennis bracelet?

A classic tennis bracelet traditionally comprises diamonds of similar sizes and cuts set in a flexible, continuous line, sometimes called a line bracelet or eternity bracelet. The flexibility is key: it sits flat against the wrist and moves with you, which is exactly why it works as well on a tennis court as it does at a black-tie dinner.

At Fogal & Barnes, we make bespoke tennis bracelets tailored to you, whether you want a classic all-diamond design, a mix of coloured gemstones, or something completely one-of-a-kind. They remain one of our most requested pieces, and honestly, it's not hard to see why.

The players keeping the tradition alive

The modern game of tennis has become something of a showcase for fine jewellery. Today's players aren't just athletes, they're style icons. And they wear their pieces with real intention.

The Williams sisters - the originals

Before it became fashionable, before sponsorship deals and custom commissions, Serena and Venus Williams were doing it their way. Those signature beaded braids from the late 1990s were just the beginning - jewellery was always part of how they showed up.

Serena took it further than anyone. At Wimbledon in 2019 alone, she wore big diamond hoops, a bold diamond bangle, a statement diamond ring, and a huge diamond heart pendant - reportedly more jewellery than Kate Middleton had on while watching from the royal box. For her 2022 US Open farewell she wore custom gold and diamond shoelace charms, featuring 400 hand-set diamonds. Diamonds on her shoes. That's Serena.

Venus, meanwhile, has said "For me, jewellery has always been more than just an accessory - it's been a means of self-expression, both on and off the court." That, right there, is everything fine jewellery should be.

The Williams sisters have been pioneers of on-court style - Image courtest of Vogue.co.uk

Aryna Sabalenka - jewellery as a statement

If you follow tennis, you'll have seen the photos from Roland Garros this year. Sabalenka walked onto the red clay wearing a custom high jewellery suite,  valued at $148,000, designed by New York jeweller Material Good. The piece featured over 200 carats of garnets alongside 23 carats of diamonds, designed as three layered necklaces built to move naturally during competition. The inspiration? The famous red clay courts of Roland Garros themselves.

For Sabalenka, jewellery is described as a personal ritual, worn with intention both in competition and beyond. She's the brand's first ever jewellery ambassador, and the pieces are designed in close collaboration with her.

It's bold, it's unapologetic, and I think it's brilliant.

Dazzling in the sunlight - Image courtesy of Aryna Sabalenka/Instagram - @arynasabalenka

The jewels taking centre-stage on-court - Image courtesy of Christophe Ena/AP (AP)

Emma Raducanu - British elegance, Tiffany style

Our own Emma Raducanu has had one of the most talked-about jewellery partnerships in tennis. At her Wimbledon Centre Court debut, she stepped onto court wearing pearl teardrop earrings set in platinum and encrusted with diamonds from the Tiffany Victoria collection - believed to be worth around £7,500 - alongside a pendant necklace and a Tiffany bangle.

She spoke about the pieces she wore throughout the US Open: "I wore the ring, bracelet, earrings and cross necklace throughout the tournament. These pieces will always be very special to me."

There's something so lovely about that. Jewellery isn't just something pretty; it can become part of how you compete, part of your ritual, your armour, and your confidence.

Timeless pieces worn by Emma Raducanu - Image courtesy of Emma Raducanu/Instagram - @emmareducanu

Elina Svitolina - jewellery with a story

Svitolina is another player whose jewellery choices are deeply personal. The three necklaces she wears on court are all gifts from her husband, Gael Monfils, including one bearing the initial of their daughter name. 

She's also become a vocal advocate for Ukrainian craftsmanship, becoming the first ambassador for SOLO for Diamonds, a Ukrainian lab-grown diamond maker. She told Sports Illustrated: "I take pride in supporting brands that highlight our country's innovation and craftsmanship."

When jewellery carries that kind of meaning - heritage, love, identity - it transcends being just an accessory.

Coco Gauff - history repeating itself

And then there's Coco Gauff, who managed to recreate the Chris Evert moment almost perfectly, and without even trying. At Wimbledon 2025, during her first-round match, one of her diamond hoop earrings fell off onto the grass court. Her opponent Dayana Yastremska spotted it and picked it up for her. A nearly identical scene to 1978, played out on the same lawns, almost fifty years later.

Why the tennis bracelet endures

Trends come and go. The tennis bracelet doesn't. It's been on wrists since the 1920s, gained a name in 1978, and it's still one of the most gifted, most requested, most universally loved pieces in fine jewellery.

I think that's because it works for everyone. It's feminine without being fussy. It adds sparkle without demanding attention. It moves with you, whether you're on a tennis court, at a wedding, or just living your life.

At Fogal & Barnes, we can create your tennis bracelet as a completely bespoke commission - choosing your diamonds, your metal, your setting style - or we can help you find a design from our collection that feels just right. Pricing can be flexible, depending on your desired metal, or your choice of natural or lab-grown diamonds. 

Thinking about a tennis bracelet?

Whether it's a gift for someone special, a treat for yourself, or a piece you've had in mind for years - we're here for it. Pop into the shop on Cambridge Street, Harrogate, or get in touch and we'll chat through what's possible.

Because life's too short not to wear the bracelet.

Mona x