The Bracelet You’ll Never Want to Take Off: A Deep Dive Into the Tennis Trend

There’s a funny thing about jewellery. We tend to imagine it as something reserved for big milestones or splashy occasions, but when you talk to people who really love their pieces, they’ll often tell you their favourites are the ones they barely think about. The items that slip into daily life so comfortably they almost feel like an extension of you. For plenty of Australians these days, that piece is a diamond tennis bracelet.

It surprised me, honestly. When I first started noticing them appearing everywhere from brunch tables to Pilates classes, I thought it was just another fast trend. But the more I paid attention, the more I realised the tennis bracelet has quietly become one of those rare accessories that slides between sporty, corporate, dressy, and utterly casual without ever feeling out of place. It’s understated, but not invisible. Polished, but not pretentious. There’s a kind of confidence to it.

And if you’ve ever slipped one on, you’ll understand why the style has such staying power. It feels good. Balanced. Almost meditative, in a strange way.

I thought I’d take you through why this classic piece has staged such a strong comeback, what to look for if you’re thinking about investing in one, and a few unexpected details behind its appeal that might change the way you look at fine jewellery altogether.

The bracelet that wasn’t meant to be iconic

Most people have heard some version of the Chris Evert story. The tennis champion, mid-match in the late 70s, asked officials to pause the game because her diamond bracelet had slipped off her wrist. Cameras caught the moment, headlines followed, and the style picked up the now-famous nickname: the tennis bracelet.

But the bit that often gets lost is how practical that original design was. Yes, it was elegant, but it also had this clean, flexible structure that let Evert play at full speed without catching or snagging on anything. That streamlined design is what made the bracelet so wearable then, and it’s what makes it work now, whether you’re ducking between meetings or doing the school run.

Over time, that combination of glamour and ease-of-wear stuck. So even though fashion cycles roll on relentlessly, the tennis bracelet never completely disappeared. It just waited patiently for its next moment.

And right now, that moment is big.

Why the diamond tennis bracelet suits modern Australian style

If you’ve lived here long enough, you know Australians have a particular attitude toward style. We don’t love anything too stiff or formal. We prefer things that feel lived-in, comfortable, unforced.

So it makes perfect sense that the diamond tennis bracelet, with its barely-there weight and endlessly wearable silhouette, has struck a chord again.

I’ve spoken to stylists who say clients want pieces that “work harder” now. They don’t want jewellery they have to baby or pack away except for weddings or fancy dinners. A tennis bracelet ticks all the boxes: subtle sparkle for everyday wear, enough presence for nights out, and the versatility to layer with watches, bangles, or even a smartwatch.

If you’re curious what that looks like in practice, have a browse through Novita’s range of diamond tennis bracelet styles. What you’ll notice straight away is how many variations exist now: delicate designs with slender chains, chunkier modern takes, vintage-inspired patterns, and everything between. The original “one-look-fits-all” idea has opened up into a whole category.

The rise of ethical sparkles

Now, here’s the part that probably wouldn’t have crossed Evert’s mind in the 70s: sustainability. The demand for ethical jewellery has exploded in the past few years, and tennis bracelets have ridden that wave.

More buyers than ever are choosing lab created diamonds, partly because they’re more accessible in price, partly because they offer a clear ethical pathway, and partly because the quality these days is phenomenal. I don’t mean “good for the price” in a polite way. I mean truly top-tier.

You might not know this, but lab grown diamonds are chemically and physically identical to mined stones. Same sparkle, same hardness, same durability. The big difference is transparency around sourcing.

A friend of mine, who works in the jewellery industry and is usually pretty unflappable, told me she’s seeing customers walk in asking specifically for lab stones. Five years ago, hardly anyone knew what they were. Times change fast.

If you’re curious about how they slot into the fashion world in general, this piece on lab created diamonds gives a nice snapshot of how they’re shaping modern jewellery trends.

What actually matters when choosing a tennis bracelet

A lot of people fall in love with the sparkle first, and fair enough, it’s hard not to. But once you start shopping, the details matter more than you might expect. If I had to sum it up, I’d say this: flexibility, security, and flow.

Flexibility is what makes a tennis bracelet sit smoothly on the wrist. Each little link should move freely without kinking. If it feels stiff or disjointed, it won’t drape properly, which is half the beauty of the whole style.

Security is the clasp. It sounds boring, but it’s everything. A good tennis bracelet clasp usually has a double-lock mechanism, and you’ll feel a satisfying little click when it closes. If a jeweller hesitates when you ask about the clasp, walk away.

Flow is how the diamonds sit together. The bracelet should look seamless, as if there’s a ribbon of light wrapped around your wrist. Each stone should be set at the same height, with even spacing and a smooth taper.

Then there’s the diamonds themselves. Whether you choose mined or lab created, focus on cut quality. Not size, not clarity first, but cut. A well-cut diamond will outshine a larger but poorly cut one every single time. Think of it like photography: the lens matters more than the megapixels.

Price ranges that actually make sense

People often whisper about tennis bracelet prices like they’re discussing state secrets. But the truth is, the range is wider than most expect.

At the lower end, you can find dainty bracelets with smaller lab diamonds for less than the cost of a new smartphone. At the high end, you can easily wander into five-figure territory, especially with large stones or designer settings.

The sweet spot for most Australians sits somewhere in the middle: substantial enough to feel special, but not so extravagant that you’re scared to wear it outside the house.

One customer I interviewed for a lifestyle piece last year told me she wears hers gardening. Gardening. I laughed at first, but then she said something that stuck with me: “If I’m buying something beautiful, I want it to be part of my real life, not my pretend life.” Fair argument.

How people are styling tennis bracelets now

This is the fun part. The way people wear their tennis bracelets has evolved, and you’ll see three big camps emerging.

The first is the purists. They wear a single bracelet on a bare wrist, letting it shine on its own. Clean, classic, very Sydney-lunch-on-a-Sunday.

The second is the stackers. They’ll pile a tennis bracelet next to a watch, a slim gold bangle, and maybe another fine bracelet for good measure. The effect is relaxed but polished, like you accidentally created the perfect mix.

The third is the new wave: the sports-luxury crowd. Think activewear, sneakers, messy bun, and one strand of diamonds glittering next to a fitness tracker. There’s something refreshingly non-traditional about it.

None of these are “right.” They’re just ways of weaving a classic into a modern wardrobe.

My own moment of conversion

Since I write about jewellery quite a bit, people assume I’ve been wearing a diamond tennis bracelet for ages. Truthfully, I resisted for a long time. I thought they were too neat, too polished, too much like something your boss would wear.

Then last year, while researching a piece, I tried one on. Just a slender chain of tiny stones. And I finally got it. It wasn’t flashy at all. It just added this soft shimmer that moved when I moved. I wore it around the studio for a few hours and forgot it was even on until someone pointed it out.

The appeal isn’t that it shouts. It’s that it whispers.

Why the tennis bracelet feels meaningful again

We’re in this strange cultural moment where everything feels either incredibly fast or strangely uncertain. People want simplicity. Permanence. A little beauty that doesn’t demand too much from them.

There’s something grounding about a piece of jewellery you can wear every day without thinking too hard. Something reassuring in the rhythm of those tiny links and the way the bracelet catches the light when you’re reaching for your coffee or typing an email.

Maybe that’s why the tennis bracelet has made such a comeback. It’s not really about luxury anymore. It’s about ease, confidence, and choosing things that make daily life feel a little nicer.

A final thought

If you’re thinking about getting a diamond tennis bracelet, don’t rush. Try a few, compare the feel, watch how they sit on your wrist when you move. Jewellery is far more personal than people give it credit for, and the right piece will almost always choose you.

And whatever you decide, remember this: the best jewellery isn’t kept in a box. It’s the stuff you reach for without thinking, the pieces that soak up your days and become little stories in themselves.