Not Your Mothers Rivière: Tennis Necklaces are Trending Big-Time

We first heard about a diamond tennis necklace trend this spring (the hot tip came from a jewelry buyer at New York’s Bergdorf Goodman). Now our sources tell us the category is patently on fire.

The reigning theory is that the tennis necklace has become the cool-girl’s version of a diamond rivière necklace, a longstanding bread-and-butter category for jewelers. The new look is more petite in nature, comes in choker lengths—typically adjustable to 16 inches or smaller—and is meant to anchor a layered “neck mess” of multiple styles (see above photo of layered Anita Ko necklaces).

As such, tennis necklaces represent a natural evolution—and necessary update—to an old favorite. Its daintier profile is also better suited to dressed-down, work-from-home looks than a classic rivière necklace. And while some women upgraded their eternity bands and engagement rings during the pandemic lockdowns (when jewelry sales surged), the tennis necklace has emerged as the younger self-purchaser’s choice of a  luxe, timeless, and everyday wearable.

Suppliers who carry tennis necklaces should be loud about it, and price the necklaces competitively. And retailers, do not leave the Las Vegas jewelry shows without a stockpile of them; if the number of Instagram influencers wearing them now is any indication, the look will be huge this holiday.

And remember, diamonds are completely optional in a tennis necklace—adding color can add variety to your price points. Below are some sparkling examples that show the many modern forms today’s tennis necklaces can take.

Top photo: Round and pear-shape diamond shaker necklace in 18k gold, $38,175; Heburn choker in 18k gold with blue sapphires, $15,650; and Hepburn choker in 18k gold with diamonds and sapphire centerpiece, $44,625; all Anita Ko.

Follow the Zing Report on Instagram: @thezingreport