Top: Vice Versa “Kin Necklace” tennis necklace made of gold and diamonds with spheres chain.
Whether a jewelry connoisseur considers himself a minimalist or a layering style enthusiast, chances are he already has or desires the perfect diamond tennis necklace.
A simple diamond rivière, which means “river” in French, has been popular since the 1700s, according to online antique jewelry university Lang Antiques.
With stones that are equal or slightly graduated in size, today the style is often referred to as a tennis necklace. From its resemblance to the tennis bracelet, or as a diamond line necklace.
Although it never went out of fashion, it has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
In the past, a diamond tennis necklace might have been kept in a safe and taken out for special occasions. In the tennis necklace it has a more relaxed feel and is worn as an everyday style.
In the era when consumers buy fine jewellery for themselves and enjoy shopping as everyday accessories, tennis necklaces with smaller diamonds have proliferated. They are more appropriate for daytime wear than a huge diamond statement piece and are easy to pair with other necklaces.
This makes the diamond tennis necklace an MVP of the wardrobe. As reliable as your favorite pair of jeans, which, coincidentally, goes just as well with a diamond necklace as it does with a formal dress or suit.
In terms of design, a tennis necklace doesn't offer much in terms of uniqueness. However, jewellery designers have put their own twist on the style.
While not classic tennis necklaces, brands have capitalized on the popularity of the style through their own gold and diamond chains measuring between 15 and 18 inches that carry their own distinctive style.
Their designs are just as versatile as a rivière with just as many possibilities for layering. But they are, arguably, more interesting to look at.
Ara Vartanian's almost utilitarian gold and diamond links, with some characteristically inverted black diamonds, give a unisex alternative to a diamond-lined chain. While Jacquie Aiche's pendant diamonds offer the quintessential movement and romantic style of the brand.
One of Sydney Evan's most recent tennis necklace-like pieces features her favorite evil eye as chain links. While Lauren Rubinski's take is all about bold gold, with a few pavé diamond rings.
Coming from generations of diamond merchants, Jade Trau's designer, Jade Lustig, has always preferred diamonds to coloured gemstones. Her everyday diamond and gold necklaces are all about the interaction between the diamond and the metal.
“The ‘Pia Necklace’ is definitely a favourite of the brand. I think this is because it achieves the perfect balance. Balance between the proportion of chain and diamonds,” she explained of the style.
“It has enough diamonds to look like a diamond necklace. Even a classic chain to have that gold chain heaviness. It also has complete autonomy, but it pairs just as seamlessly with other necklaces.”.
Vice Versa Jewelry co-founders Sophie Thoerner and Hannah Traulsen's “Kin Necklace” put the up-and-coming brand on the map. Pendant diamonds are scattered among the links of a simple ball chain.
Like many good ideas, the design idea was the answer to a problem Thoerner and Traulsen had with regular diamond necklaces.
“We love the effortless, everyday look of a diamond tennis necklace. But we found that traditional tennis necklaces were always inverted, so the diamonds were not visible,” they said.
“We created the ‘Kin Necklace’ as a sophisticated alternative that is always right around your neck. The cascading wave of diamonds adds movement and makes it look like the diamonds are almost floating. A little sexy and totally cool, it's our version of a classic style.”.
A well-designed alternative tennis necklace often shows that a designer is consistent in their visual identity.
Azlee's elegant geometric aesthetic is perfectly expressed in the company's “Scattered Gold Bar and Diamond Tennis Necklace”. While Boochier's playful spirit is on full display in the “Slinkee” gold and diamond motif necklace.
Source: nationaljeweler.com
