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The Tennis Necklace Is The Hottest Piece Of Jewellery To Invest In Right Now
It's the classic bracelet's cooler, more contemporary younger sister
Few pieces of jewellery make quite as strong a statement as the tennis bracelet. That single row of diamonds glistening away on someone's wrist not only oozes timeless elegance, but also acts as the ultimate status symbol thanks to one incredibly hefty price tag – it is a string of multiple, identical, ultra-precious stones after all. As such, this classic piece of jewellery has largely been reserved for old-world ladies of leisure, glitzy country-club mums and dynastic trust-fund babies.
Not so, however, in the case of the tennis necklace: the bracelet's cooler and far more desirable younger sister. It has modern-day star power without the fusty undertones, and we've seen it gracing the necks of everyone from Zendaya to Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber, Zoe Kravitz and Nicola Peltz-Beckham.
According to British jewellery brand The Diamond Store, tennis necklaces have seen a surge in popularity over the past 18 months, reaching a peak last Christmas when the brand's sales hit 117% compared to the previous year. The exact reason for the trend is multifaceted – the arrival of warmer weather, the debut of Zendaya's film 'Challengers' – but it's most likely down to the appeal of lab-grown diamonds, which makes the coveted tennis necklace both more ethical and accessible.
Atop a sleek, all-black evening look or worn casually in the day, the tennis necklace's vibe is less 'look at my eff-off diamonds' and more 'sparkles subtly poking out of my plain white tee'. Despite sometimes costing tens (or hundreds) of thousands, it's all about effortless cool – and today's technological advances mean that even if the diamonds aren't the real deal, you can barely tell the difference. In fact, brands such as Astrid & Miyu and Heavenly London offer particularly good-looking options, plated in gold and set with stones slightly more affordable than a fist full of diamonds.
From the classic to the playful, plain to colourful, these are the best tennis necklaces you should buy now – and wear forever.
The Sparkliest Tennis Necklaces To Invest In Now
Astrid & Miyu Tennis Chain Necklace in Gold
Astrid & Miyu Tennis Chain Necklace in Gold
Astrid & Miyu is our favourite name for huggie hoops and cartilage earrings –and now, we're adding this glinting necklace to our wish-list. It's more slender than most, so makes a great option for every day, and also comes in rose gold.
Swarovski pioneered the use of cubic zirconia, so we expect this rhodium-plated necklace to shimmer just like the real thing.
A subtle take on the classic style, Mejuri's half tennis necklace is crafted from 14K solid gold and a row of natural diamonds.
Designed in London and made in Italy, Hatton Labs is the jewellery brand breathing new edge into sparkling stones. The Daisy necklace features intricate white cubic zirconias set into sterling silver. It's hefty, glittering, and sure to make an impact.
Hey Harper Aurea Tennis Necklace
Lisbon-based brand Hey Harper prides itself on crafting luxe, durable pieces with an accessible price tag. Instead of plating with precious metals, it uses an innovative PVD process to colour stainless steel, which results in a brilliant golden colour that will never fade or tarnish – seriously, you can even shower and swim in these pieces.
The Aurea necklace is delicately crafted with glittering Swarovski stones: 118 of them, in fact.
With crystal-clear stones set into gold-plated metal, Amina Muaddi's tennis necklace design is a forever classic. Note the adjustable clasp, too (not many tennis designs have this).
Monica Vinader Lolite Yellow Gold-Plated Pecklace
Monica Vinader Lolite Yellow Gold-Plated Pecklace
The deep-blue lolite stones in Monica Vinader's tennis necklace make a chic alternative to sparkling diamonds. The design is plated via the hardwearing vermeil technique using 18kt yellow-gold.
Heavenly London Gold Mon Cœur Necklace
Heavenly London Gold Mon Cœur Necklace
Weightier than most mid-priced designs, this choker-style tennis necklace – designed in collaboration with influencer Flavia Stuttgen – features heart-shaped cubic zirconia stones set into gold-plated metal.
Lark & Berry Modernist Diamond Tennis Necklace (2.47cts)
Lark & Berry Modernist Diamond Tennis Necklace (2.47cts)
Fine jeweller Lark & Berry is a pioneer of lab-grown diamonds, which offer all of the sparkle of mined stones with none of the ethical concerns – and, a much more friendly price tag. From the Modernist collection, this minimalist tennis necklace features 2.47cts of cultured white diamonds with remarkable clarity, set into 14kt white gold.
This modern twist on the traditional tennis style features claw-set cubic zirconias in a marquise-cut, meaning it sits seamlessly around your neck (and looks way more expensive than it really is).
A fun twist on the trend, Nialaya's emerald-cut design is plated in gold and set with a rainbow of crystal zirconias.
Roxanne Assoulin Gold-Tone Crystal Necklace
Roxanne Assoulin Gold-Tone Crystal Necklace
With two blue gemstones punctuating the clasp, this modern option offers a hint of Roxanne Assoulin's signature vibrant charm.
Striking, black round-cut zirconia stones bring a contemporary point of difference to Crystal Haze's silver-plated necklace.
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold-Plated Tennis Necklace
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold-Plated Tennis Necklace
With bezel-set stones cast into gold-plated brass, Kenneth Jay Lane's necklace is a truly timeless take.
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