The Historic U.S.Open Wardrobe Malfunction Behind Fall's Must-Have Accessory

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Bracelets and necklaces featuring a simple line of diamonds have been popping up everywhere recently—and it turns out the style had quite the athletic beginning. While the design itself has been around since the 1920s, the term 'tennis bracelet' entered the jewelry lexicon when during the 1978 U.S. Open when tennis star Chris Evert lost her diamond bracelet while playing on Center Court. Play was stopped while Evert searched for the piece; similar designs have been called "tennis bracelets" ever since.

While there has been a resurgence in the classic style that works just as well for everyday wear as it does for evening wear, only one jewelry brand has tapped the tennis champion herself for design inspiration. Monica Rich Kosann, the New York-based jeweler, teamed up with Evert to craft a line of thoughtfully designed bracelets with details that cheekily nod to that fateful match—and their second collection of baubles has just dropped in time for this year's U.S. Open, the grand slam tournament where the tennis bracelet was born.

“It’s an honor to partner with my friend Chris Evert on the newest designs in our tennis bracelet collection,” says designer Monica Rich Kosann. “She continually places her trust in me to tell her story and deliver pieces that are not only beautiful, colorful, and designed for the modern woman but capture her memories of that day in 1978 when the term ‘tennis bracelet’ became a key part of the fine jewelry lexicon."

The second collection from Evert and Kosann features more colorful stones like peridot, aquamarine, and green tourmaline. Several bracelets even boast rock crystal cut similarly to how an old mine diamond would have been cut, and many feature jewels set in Riviera settings, which allow more light to pass through. The bracelets feature a green emerald that signifies the color of the court, as well as a dangling diamond that references Evert's "bead of sweat" from her 1978 match.

“I am excited to introduce our second generation of tennis bracelets with Monica,” says Evert. “The new designs created for the collection incorporate wonderful colored gemstones, innovative new stone cuts, and yet more diamond styles, bringing new depth to the tennis bracelet story that began for me on Center Court at the U.S. Open in 1978.”

Whether you're a player or a spectator, these timeless yet thoroughly modern bracelets and necklaces are super chic when paired with tennis gear or with a straw hat and button-down. Ace? Yes, we think so.

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