Do You Know How the Iconic "Tennis Bracelet" Got Its Name?
Jewelry Designer Monica Rich Kosann collaborated with tennis legend Chris Evert on the bracelet that got its name after an incident on Centre Court more than four decades ago
If you think a collaboration between a jewelry designer and a world-class athlete seems, well, not an obvious choice… you’re right.
It isn’t.
But consider this.
Source: Town & Country
Did you know that tennis legend Chris Evert is responsible for giving the tennis bracelet its name?
Source: British Vogue
You know what I’m talking about, right?
That instantly recognizable iconic diamond bracelet.
Source: Etsy
Yeah, that one.
Jewelry designer Monica Rich Kosann told me she got a call from Evert out of the blue asking whether she’d be interesting in working together.
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
They became fast friends.
And just this week, the two new friends launched their collaboration — 13 modern tennis bracelets inspired by Evert’s memory of that important day.
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
I chatted with Monica about the story behind the tennis bracelet, how photography inspired her to launch her brand and why empowering women is the reason she does it all.
HOW DID THE TENNIS BRACELET GET ITS NAME?
ALINA CHO: I did not know the origins of the name “tennis bracelet.”
MONICA RICH KOSANN: Yeah, isn't that incredible?
ALINA CHO: Incredible.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: So, the true story is in 1978, [Chris Evert] was on Centre Court at the US Open. She was wearing a diamond bracelet. And in the middle of her match, it fell off.
Source: The Adventurine
ALINA CHO: So crazy.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: Apparently, she stopped, and she asked if they could halt the game so she could look for her bracelet.
ALINA CHO: And she found it, right?
MONICA RICH KOSANN: She found it, she put it back on. And literally, ever since then, it became known as the tennis bracelet.
Source: The New York Times
ALINA CHO: That's so crazy. She basically started the conversation, but she's never been a part of it since, until now.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: That’s right. So, for four decades, she never really did anything. And, you know, I can't really tell you why now, I don't have the answer for that, but they reached out to us.
ALINA CHO: They did?
MONICA RICH KOSANN: She was familiar with the brand, and she loved the fact that we stand for empowerment of women. You know how I design my jewelry, to tell women's stories.
ALINA CHO: Yes.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: So, we said, let's have a Zoom and let's have a chat and see where it leads. And we really hit it off.
ALINA CHO: You just clicked.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: We just clicked. And she basically said, “You know, I've never had a voice and I would love to bring this concept to life with someone like you.” I asked her a lot of questions about the day, what she remembered, and she said, “Well, I remember the green court. I remember that I was sweating, and I remember the white lines.”
ALINA CHO: Right.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: So, what I did, every single bracelet, if it's a diamond bracelet, it has an emerald somewhere on the bracelet [to represent the green court].
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
And it has a pear-shaped diamond drop to represent the perspiration and the competitive sweat.
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
We have 13 styles [of the tennis bracelet].
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
I really want this to be for a new generation, which is why we did price points starting at [under $1000].
“I’M GOING TO START MAKING LOCKETS… NOT JUST FOR GRANDMAS”
MONICA RICH KOSANN: Well, you know my roots are in photography, right?
ALINA CHO: Yes, of course. My mother are I were lucky enough to be featured in one of your books.
Photo Credit: Monica Rich Kosann
MONICA RICH KOSANN: That's right.
Photo Credit: Monica Rich Kosann
Basically, I was doing photography for [more than] 20 years. I loved to tell people's stories, to capture something personal and to capture a feeling, sort of a sentiment that you just kind of felt when you looked at the picture.
ALINA CHO: Right.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: At the same time, I used to go to flea markets and collect cigarette cases and powder compacts and lockets and I would literally take home these vintage pieces, I would clean them up and I put my client's photos in the vintage pieces.
ALINA CHO: Oh, wow.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: And for my good clients, I would give them a gift, like there was a cigarette case that was filled with their photos, or there was an old locket, it was filled with their photos. So, long story short, I went to Italy, and I actually found the old molds. The artisans who made the old molds of the cigarette cases and I had them make them new again, but in the same way that they made them 75 years ago.
ALINA CHO: Wow.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: They were like, "Why are you making cigarette cases? Nobody smokes anymore in America." And I said, "Well, I want to make cigarette cases again, but I want them to hold photos."
ALINA CHO: Right, yeah.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: So, that's kind of how it started. And I started on a tiny little shelf at Bergdorf's. That was my first customer.
ALINA CHO: And how did it evolve into jewelry? Because when I think about Monica Rich Kosann, the first thing I think of are the lockets. That is sort-of the iconic piece.
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
MONICA RICH KOSANN: So, what happened is that I thought to myself, you know, I'm a photographer, I love lockets and any lockets I looked for were kind of yucky and old.
ALINA CHO: Right.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: And I always thought to myself, lockets are the sexiest piece of jewelry a woman can wear.
ALINA CHO: Totally. You're right.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: Because it holds her secrets. It holds the things that you want close to your heart.
ALINA CHO: Right.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: I said, “You know what, I'm going to start making my own lockets that are cool and that my niece can wear.” Not just for grandmas, but that young women can wear. So, I started designing lockets that were like beautiful pieces of jewelry but that happened to be lockets. And I must have struck a chord because when I started, it just took off.
EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH JEWELRY
ALINA CHO: You have made women's empowerment a very big part of what you do. Why was that so important to you?
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
MONICA RICH KOSANN: My message, my philosophy has always been the same. With my photography, with my jewelry, I’m a storyteller.
ALINA CHO: Right.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: I have two daughters who grew up with a mom who always told them to just go and do it. And I think empowering us as women [is an important message]. That's why I have so many compasses in my collection.
Source: Monica Rich Kosann
I’m all about all the journeys and the roads we take, some are good, some are bad.
ALINA CHO: Oh, that’s interesting. I didn’t realize that’s the story behind the compass.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: I feel very strongly that women must believe in themselves. And so many obviously do.
ALINA CHO: But, sometimes, I think we need to be reminded.
MONICA RICH KOSANN: Exactly. I always talk about my pieces of jewelry as being your daily armor. So, these are like mantras and reminders and they're sort-of the armor to protect you and to help you get through more difficult times or if you fail at something, it's a reminder to get back up.