| The DeBeers diamond line bracelet has become a | | | | this idea to line them all up like little soldiers and |
| jewelry powerhouse, yet few people know it's | | | | sell them as stackable bracelets! When the in-line |
| true story. In fact, the DeBeers diamond line | | | | diamond bracelets hit the store shelves, they flew |
| bracelet began the trend that would later be | | | | off! Since a moving diamond in light sparkles the |
| made famous as the tennis bracelet of Chris | | | | most, a bunch of them on a bracelet constantly |
| Evert legend. | | | | spinning and twirling would create a cascade of |
| Tennis bracelets, originally named Diamond Line | | | | rainbows! |
| bracelets, hit the scene at the turn of the 20th | | | | The diamond line bracelet was a hit! The socialites |
| century showing up at Harry Winston and Tiffany | | | | loved them! A sign of wealth was quickly |
| but the idea for lining up small same shape | | | | established: who could wear the most in-line |
| diamonds originally came from DeBeers! You see | | | | bracelets on each wrist! The aristocrats were |
| while the diamond engagement ring was taking | | | | happy, DeBeers were happy, and the stock piles |
| off like a bullet in the U.S. there was still a horrible | | | | came down! |
| ratio of diamonds that exceeded 1/4 ct in size to | | | | Then in 1987 at the U.S. open Chris Evert lost one |
| make an attractive engagement ring to the | | | | of her in line bracelets halting the match while |
| thousands of small "insignificant" diamonds called | | | | everyone got down on their hands and knees |
| melee (diamonds) whose size is less than 1/4 | | | | looking for it! While apparently not planned, the |
| carat in size. | | | | lost bracelet at the tennis match eventually |
| The high-ups at DeBeers just sacked and stored | | | | became known as the tennis bracelet! The rest of |
| all the undesirable small melee diamonds until an | | | | my friends as they say in pictures is history! |
| executive (nobody will tell me who!) came up with | | | | |