What Is a Tennis Bracelet? How to Wear It and Pick Your Size

A tennis bracelet is a thin, flexible bracelet with one continuous row of same-size stones. There is no pendant and no charm, only a line that moves with your wrist and catches the light. This guide covers where the name comes from, how one should fit, how to wear it and what to check before you buy.

Why is it called a tennis bracelet?

The name goes back to the 1978 US Open, when tennis player Chris Evert stopped a match because her diamond line bracelet had come off her wrist. People started calling the style a tennis bracelet after that. The design has stayed the same: a flexible row of stones set one after another.

Diamond or not? Read the listing

Many results for "tennis bracelet" are diamond bracelets. Ours are tennis-style: the same continuous row, set with clear stones, in gold-tone, silver-tone and two-tone finishes. They are not diamond bracelets. Each product page lists the material and stones we know. The Tennis Bracelet is listed as 18K gold plated, S925 silver. The Golden Wave Tennis Bracelet is 18k gold-plated brass and has wave-shaped links instead of stones.

How should a tennis bracelet fit?

It should sit just past the wrist bone with a little room to move, not so loose that it slides over your hand. A common rule of thumb is your wrist measurement plus about half an inch (1.3 cm). Add less for a snug fit and more for a loose one. To measure, wrap a strip of paper around your wrist, mark where it meets, then measure the strip against a ruler.

Sizes on our pages, so you can compare:

• Tennis Bracelet: three sizes, 15+3 cm (5.9+1.2 in), 17+3 cm (6.7+1.2 in) and 21+3 cm (8.3+1.2 in), with an extension chain.
• Tennis Silver Bracelet: 6.5 inches.
• Golden Wave Tennis Bracelet: about 6.5 inches long and 8 mm thick.

Not every page lists a length. If the one you like doesn't, write to us before you order.

How to wear a tennis bracelet

• On its own, for a clean line of sparkle.
• Next to a watch, on the same wrist or the other one.
• Stacked with a thin bangle or a chain bracelet. Keep the other pieces plainer so the stones stand out.
• With both metals. The Two-Tone Tennis Bracelet alternates gold-tone and silver-tone links, so it goes with either.

Choosing one: stones, closure and finish

• Stone shape: round stones in the Tennis Silver Bracelet, oval in the Tennis Oval Bracelet, rectangular in the Tennis Gold Bracelet and oval purple zircon in the Tennis Purple Zircon Bracelet.
• Closure: a lobster clasp with an extension chain adjusts the fit. Fold-over and box clasps close at a set length. The page names the clasp.
• Finish: gold-tone, silver-tone or both. Pick the one that matches what you already wear.

The same idea as a necklace

A tennis necklace is the same continuous line around the neck. Our Pave Golden Wave Tennis Necklace is 18K gold plated over brass with white cubic zirconia stones, 16 inches long and 8 mm thick. For how to combine it with other chains, see how to layer necklaces.

Caring for a tennis bracelet

Keep it away from water, perfume and lotions, wipe it with a soft cloth and store it on its own so the stones don't scratch other pieces. More in our care guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a regular bracelet and a tennis bracelet?

A tennis bracelet is a single flexible row of matching stones all the way around. Other bracelets can be rigid, have charms, or mix shapes.

Do people still wear tennis bracelets?

Yes. The shape is plain, so it goes with other bracelets and with a watch. Wear it alone or in a stack.

Can I add charms to it?

A tennis bracelet is designed to be worn as it is. If you want charms, see our guide on how many charms to put on a bracelet.

See all our bracelets.