Tennis Bracelet Anyone?

Not too many years ago, Chris Evert, one of America's most famous tennis stars wore a diamond bracelet while playing in the U.S. Open. When Evert's bracelet fell to the ground, the press coined the term, diamond tennis bracelet. Thus creating a jewelry phenom on the order of Evert's tennis prowess.

Late in the summer of 2002 Serena Williams appeared at the legendary House of Harry Winston to receive the firm's new diamond tennis bracelet, one inspired by her grace, strength and flawless accomplishment. Williams wore the $29,000 Twelve to Twilight tennis bracelet (Pictured this page) on and off the court during last years U.S. Open.

Winston added an extra secure safety clasp to the bracelet to make sure the flexible and fluid piece stayed securely on William's 7 and one-half inch wrist. Additionally, they added an extra inch of length to the bracelet to accommodate her wrist measurement and killer swing. Williams' bracelet contains 242 colorless diamonds and totals 12 carats. The gems are set in platinum, the strongest of all metals.

Williams rightly followed in the footsteps of her tennis star idol, Evert. "Today, Harry Winston has created a design that is as elegant as it is strong," said the firm's Chairman, Ronald Winston, when the bracelet was presented to Williams. Unlike the line design worn by Evert, Winston's updated creation has an ultra-feminine cluster floral motif that is as romantic as it is approachable. The cluster design has been making headlines since Halle Berry wore one from Harry Winston to accept her Academy Award for Best Actress. Similar cluster designs from Winston have recently been spotted on Jennifer Lopez, Calista Flockhart, Whoopi Goldberg and Madonna. (See our "Stars" of the Award Show Circuit feature in Fashion Report).

Williams' royal treatment from the jeweler to the stars is nothing new to the famous design house. In 1998, 'Homer King' Mark McGwire got a prize fit for a king; a one-carat diamond baseball ring created by Harry Winston to celebrate McGwire's major-league home run record.

For young tennis fans, the jeweler arranged another surprise. Three young Williams' aficionados had the opportunity to meet their idol at Winston's Fifth Avenue location. The Fresh Air Fund arranged for ten and eleven year old sisters, Naomi and Shabyea Adams and ten year old Victoria Ortiz, to come and meet Serena and get a few tips from the pro. "It all starts with the kids," said Ronald Winston. "Meeting a hero today could change their lives forever; and that's what dreams are made of..."

Well that ... and Diamonds Mr. Winston.

Some source material reprinted with permission from IDEX Magazine (http://www.idexonline.com/).