Diamond Tennis Bracelets & Necklaces · Bedfordview, Johannesburg
Tennis bracelets in South Africa: what they cost and how they are made.
A tennis bracelet is a flexible line of matched diamonds set in repeating links, made to sit on the wrist. The diamond version is priced on the total carat weight of the line and the metal, so the cost scales with how many carats you choose and the quality of the stones, not on a single large diamond. Because a line is built from many small matched stones, the rand-per-carat sits well below that of one big diamond of the same total weight.
Every Prodiam diamond tennis bracelet and tennis necklace is made to order in our Bedfordview, Johannesburg workshop, with the diamonds cut at Procut DCW and matched in-house within one colour and one clarity grade across the whole line. Total weights from roughly 2ct to 30ct, in white gold, yellow gold, rose gold or platinum. GIA-certified natural diamonds, with a firm ZAR quote by total carat weight and insured delivery anywhere in South Africa.
Brief us on a tennis bracelet Email Darren directly → Browse ProJewel pieces →
Diamond tennis bracelets, yours made to order
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A round-brilliant diamond tennis bracelet in 18ct white gold, made to order -
A round-brilliant diamond tennis bracelet in 18ct yellow gold, made to order
Every tennis bracelet is made to order at our Bedfordview bench, matched stone by stone to your brief and priced on application.
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Natural diamonds only
Mined-Earth, never lab-grown, by conviction, not price. Kimberley-Process documented from the mine of origin. Why we don’t sell lab-grown →
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GIA & EGL certified
Every loose stone certified by the GIA or EGL. Cert PDF supplied per stone.
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Insured delivery, SA & worldwide
Overnight across South Africa via Brink’s, G4S or our nominated jewellery courier. Insured worldwide dispatch via Ferrari Group and FedEx Custom Critical.
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14-day in-person exchange
In-person sales at the viewing room come with a 14-day exchange courtesy on stock pieces. Distance-sale CPA cooling-off applies.
How a tennis bracelet is priced
A diamond tennis bracelet is priced on the total carat weight of the line multiplied by the rand-per-carat for the colour, clarity and cut grade you choose, plus the metal it is set in. So the cost scales with two things you control: how many carats sit on the wrist, and the quality of the stones across the line. The diamonds set most of the figure; the gold or platinum is the smaller part.
The line is built from many small matched stones rather than one large diamond, and small stones carry a far lower rand-per-carat than a single big one. That is why a tennis bracelet of, say, 5ct total is a different order of cost from a 5ct solitaire, even though the carat weight reads the same. With Prodiam the stone price is wholesale-direct, because the diamonds are cut and matched in-house at Procut DCW rather than bought in finished and marked up across a retail counter.
Because the carat weight, grade and metal are all yours to set, there is no single shelf price. We give you a firm ZAR quote by total carat weight, excl. VAT, before any work begins, so you see exactly what the line costs at the weight and quality you have chosen.
Request a firm quote by total carat weight
Matched colour and clarity across the whole line
On a tennis bracelet the eye does not read any single diamond, it reads the line. One stone a shade warmer, or one a little cloudier, and the whole piece looks uneven under light.
Because we cut the diamonds ourselves at Procut DCW and read and sort them in-house, we match every stone in a Prodiam tennis bracelet or tennis necklace within one colour grade and one clarity grade, and calibrate them to the same diameter so the line reads as a single continuous run of light. Side and centre stones are matched on the daylight tray and checked under loupe before anything is set.
A chain jeweller buys a finished bracelet in; we build yours from a parcel of stones we cut, which is the only way to guarantee the match.
Construction: four-claw, shared-claw and channel
The construction sets how much light reaches the diamonds and how the bracelet wears. We make all three of the classic tennis constructions to order:
- Four-claw (prong), each diamond held in its own four-claw basket, the most light into the stone and the brightest, most traditional tennis look. The open gallery lets the bracelet breathe and the stones face up fully.
- Shared-claw, adjacent stones share claws, so the diamonds sit closer with less metal showing between them. A denser, more continuous line of light, popular on finer everyday bracelets.
- Channel-set, the diamonds run inside two walls of metal with no claws, flush and snag-free. The most secure and the most modern, and the kindest construction for an active wrist.
Every bracelet is finished with a hidden box clasp and a figure-eight safety catch, and most carry a second safety chain, because the one thing that must never fail on a line of matched diamonds is the clasp. Necklaces use the same matched line extended to 40cm to 45cm with the same secured clasp.
Carat weights, stone sizes and metals
| Choice | What we make to order |
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| Fine / everyday bracelet | ~2ct–4ct total, matched small stones, a discreet line of light for daily wear |
| Classic / statement bracelet | ~5ct–15ct total, larger calibrated stones, the most-requested tennis weight in South Africa |
| High-line bracelet | ~20ct–30ct+ total, substantial calibrated stones, quoted on the brief |
| Tennis / riviera necklace | Same matched line at 40cm–45cm, carrying considerably more total carat weight |
| Metals | 18k white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, or platinum |
| Certification | GIA / EGL certified; larger individual centre stones supplied with their own report |
You set the total carat weight against your budget and your wrist length; we calibrate the individual stone size so the line stays even and the spacing sits correctly on the wrist. Round brilliants are polished in-house, rounds to the GIA Excellent standard on our own bench. Pricing is on application, the diamonds drive the figure, and you receive a firm ZAR quote, excl. VAT, before any work begins.
How a tennis bracelet is made to order
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Brief
Total carat weight, colour and clarity range, construction (four-claw, shared-claw or channel), metal, wrist length, budget and deadline. We respond within 24 hours.
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Match the line
The full run of diamonds matched within one colour and one clarity grade and calibrated to the same diameter at Procut DCW. Checked under loupe and on the daylight tray.
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Build & cast
Links built and cast in 18k white, yellow or rose gold, or platinum, sized to your wrist with the right number of links for an even line.
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Set & secure
Each diamond claw- or channel-set at the bench. Hidden box clasp, figure-eight safety catch and, where specified, a safety chain. Hand-polished to a mirror finish.
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Hand-over
Quality control under loupe and microscope, then presentation at Bedfordview by appointment or insured overnight courier nationwide. Certification and a written insurance valuation included.
A tennis bracelet sits in the same made-to-order house as our custom engagement rings and the finished pieces in the ProJewel range; if you would rather start from the stones, see the loose diamonds we currently have on the bench. When you are ready, brief us on the piece and Darren will come back within 24 hours.
Diamond tennis bracelets: common questions
How much does a diamond tennis bracelet cost in South Africa?
A diamond tennis bracelet is priced on the total carat weight of the line multiplied by the rand-per-carat for the colour, clarity and cut grade you choose, plus the metal. So the cost scales with how many carats sit on the wrist and the quality of the stones, with the diamonds setting most of the figure and the gold or platinum the smaller part.
Because the line is built from many small matched stones rather than one large diamond, the rand-per-carat is far below that of a single big diamond of the same total weight.
There is no single shelf price; with Prodiam the stone price is wholesale-direct, because the diamonds are cut and matched in-house at Procut DCW rather than bought in finished and marked up, and you receive a firm ZAR quote by total carat weight, excl. VAT, before any work begins.
How many carats is a diamond tennis bracelet?
It depends on the look you want. A fine, everyday line bracelet sits around 2ct to 4ct total, spread across forty or more small matched stones. A statement bracelet runs 7ct to 15ct, and a high-line piece can carry 20ct to 30ct or more. The carat weight is yours to set against budget and wrist size; we calibrate the individual stone size to keep the line even and the spacing right for your wrist length.
Can you match the diamonds across the whole bracelet?
Yes, this is the part a cutting house does that a retailer cannot. Because the stones are cut in-house and matched on our own bench, we match every diamond in the line within one colour grade and one clarity grade, and calibrate them to the same diameter so the bracelet reads as a single continuous run of light rather than a row of mismatched stones.
The match is checked under loupe and on the daylight tray before the piece is set.
What is the difference between a tennis bracelet and a tennis necklace?
They are the same construction at different lengths. A tennis bracelet is a flexible line of matched diamonds, claw- or channel-set in repeating links, usually 17cm to 19cm to sit on the wrist. A tennis necklace, sometimes called a riviera or line necklace, is the same matched line extended to 40cm to 45cm for the throat, carrying far more total carat weight.
We make both, and we make matched bracelet-and-necklace pairs to the same colour and clarity.
How long does a custom tennis bracelet take to make?
Most tennis bracelets run four to six weeks from approved brief to finished piece: matching and calibrating the line of diamonds, building and casting the links in your chosen metal, claw- or channel-setting each stone, then a box-and-figure-eight safety clasp, hand-polishing, and quality control under loupe and microscope. A longer or higher-carat necklace can take a little more. Tell us your deadline in the brief and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Can I order a tennis bracelet if I am not in Johannesburg?
Yes, clients commission from Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Gqeberha and across South Africa. The brief and stone-grade conversation happens by video or WhatsApp, you approve the carat weight, metal and construction, and the finished bracelet is delivered insured and overnight nationwide via Brink’s or G4S. A written valuation for insurance is included, and wrist sizing is handled with a simple measurement we talk you through.