Tennis and Gemstone Bracelets

JEWELLERY · GLOBAL

Tennis and Gemstone Bracelets

Settings and security, clasps, sizing and wearing one daily

A line bracelet set with stones all the way round is bought to be worn constantly, which puts it under more strain than almost any other piece. The failure points are known and checkable.

The clasp is what fails

A bracelet swings, catches on sleeves and is knocked against surfaces all day. A box clasp with a figure-of-eight safety catch, or a double safety mechanism, is what keeps it on the wrist.

A simple lobster clasp alone is not adequate for a valuable bracelet. Ask what secondary security is fitted.

Settings

Prong or claw settings show the most stone and expose the edges, and claws are where stones are lost. Bezel and channel settings enclose the stone and are far more secure for daily wear.

Look at how the links articulate. A bracelet that moves smoothly distributes stress; one that binds concentrates it at a few joints.

Stone choice

Diamond, sapphire and ruby tolerate the knocks a wrist takes. Emerald is brittle, and opal, pearl and turquoise are too soft for a bracelet worn every day.

Sizing

Measure the wrist snugly and add roughly one to two centimetres for comfort. Too loose and it spins and catches; too tight and it digs in when the wrist flexes.

Ask whether links can be added or removed, since that is easier than replacing a piece.

Checking it

Run a fingertip over the stones periodically and listen for rattle, which means a loose setting. Have the clasp and settings professionally checked every year or two.

That inspection costs very little and is what prevents losing a stone or the whole bracelet.

Buying online

Colour and scale are unreliable on a screen. Ask for a photograph on a wrist, check the stated total carat weight and the individual stone size, and buy from somewhere with straightforward returns.

Ask whether stones are natural, lab-grown or treated, all of which are legitimate and should be disclosed.

Repairs

Have a broken clasp replaced with a better one rather than repaired like for like. It costs a little more and prevents the same failure again.

Insurance and valuation

Home contents policies cap jewellery at a low figure, and anything above that needs listing separately with a valuation. Keep receipts, photographs and certification somewhere separate from the pieces.

Have valuable items revalued every few years, since metal and stone prices move considerably over time.

Care and insurance

Take it off for the gym, cleaning and swimming. Contents policies cap jewellery low, so list anything significant separately and keep certification safe.

WHERE TO BUY

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