A Continuous Line of Diamonds Around Your Neck
A diamond tennis necklace — also called a diamond riviere — is a continuous line of individually set diamonds that encircles the entire neck. It is the necklace equivalent of a tennis bracelet: flexible, elegant, and unmistakably luxurious. With lab-grown diamonds, this once-unattainable piece is now accessible to a much wider audience.
What Is a Tennis Necklace
- Design: Individual diamonds (typically round brilliant) set in a continuous line from clasp to clasp. Each diamond is individually prong-set, channel-set, or bezel-set
- Flexibility: The articulated links between each diamond create a flexible, draping necklace that follows the contours of the neck and collarbone
- Total carat weight: Typically 5.00-20.00+ TCW depending on the individual diamond sizes and necklace length. This is a significant amount of diamond
Choosing Your Tennis Necklace
- Individual diamond size: 0.05-0.10 ct each for subtle elegance (many small diamonds). 0.10-0.25 ct each for visible individual sparkle. 0.25-0.50 ct each for dramatic, statement-level presence
- Total carat weight: 5.00-8.00 TCW for refined elegance. 8.00-15.00 TCW for visible luxury. 15.00+ TCW for maximum statement
- Length: 16 inches sits at the collarbone (choker style). 17-18 inches is the most common length — sits just below the collarbone for elegant draping. 20+ inches creates a more relaxed, deeper neckline
- Diamond quality: G-H color, VS-SI clarity, Excellent cut. At the small per-diamond sizes used in tennis necklaces, SI clarity is typically perfectly eye-clean
- Setting type: Four-prong (maximum sparkle), three-prong (more delicate), bezel (most modern, most secure)
Graduated vs Uniform
- Uniform: All diamonds are the same size. Creates a consistent, even line of sparkle. The most common design
- Graduated: Diamonds increase in size toward the center of the necklace and decrease toward the clasp. The largest diamond sits at the center of the collarbone. Creates a dramatic focal point
The Lab-Grown Advantage
- A 10.00 TCW mined diamond tennis necklace might cost $15,000-30,000+
- The same quality in lab-grown: $3,000-8,000. Same diamonds. Same gold. Same beauty. Dramatically different price
- Lab-grown diamonds make the tennis necklace — once reserved for red carpet events — accessible for daily luxury
Styling
- Alone: A tennis necklace is a complete statement. No other necklace needed. It IS the jewelry
- With matching studs: Diamond tennis necklace + diamond stud earrings is one of the most elegant jewelry combinations possible
- Neckline: Best with V-necks, scoop necks, and off-shoulder necklines that expose the collarbone and create a frame for the diamonds