Tennis Chain Guide
What a tennis chain is
A tennis chain is a necklace built from one unbroken line of small stones of the same size and cut, set end to end so there is no gap between them. There is no pendant and no focal point. The whole piece is the detail, which is why it reads as one continuous line of light around the neck rather than as a necklace with something hanging off it.
The name comes from tennis. A player lost a line bracelet mid match, play was stopped so it could be found, and the style kept the name. Bracelet and necklace are built the same way, so the words tennis bracelet and tennis chain describe the same setting at different lengths.
How the setting works
Each stone sits in its own small cup and is held by four prongs, one at each corner. That matters for two reasons. The prongs lift the stone clear of the metal so light can enter from the side as well as the top, which is where the sparkle comes from. And each stone is held independently, so the chain keeps moving and following the shape of your neck instead of sitting stiff.
The Billie Tennis Chain 4MM uses round-cut cubic zirconia in exactly that four prong setting, and closes with a box clasp with a safety catch.
Choosing a length
Tennis chains are sold in fixed lengths rather than adjustable ones, because an extension chain would break the unbroken line. So the length is the one decision to get right before you order.
- 40 cm, 16 inches. Sits high on the neck, close to the collarbone. Reads as a choker on most people. This is the one to pick if you want it visible above a crew neck or a t shirt.
- 50 cm, 20 inches. Sits below the collarbone, at the top of the chest. Easier to layer with a longer chain, and the standard choice if you want it to sit over a top rather than against the skin.
If you are between the two, measure a piece of string around your neck where you want the chain to fall and check it against those numbers. There is a size chart on the product page as well.
Width
Width is the size of the stones, and it decides how loud the piece is. At 4 mm the stones are large enough to catch light across a room but still sit flat and comfortable under a collar. Wider tennis chains sit heavier and are harder to wear every day; narrower ones stop reading as a tennis chain at all and start looking like a plain chain.
Will it fade or mark your skin
Two things people ask before buying, and they are worth answering plainly. The finish is protective plated: it will not discolour your skin and it will not fade with daily wear. It is waterproof, so showering, swimming, sweating, rain and the gym are all fine. You do not have to take it off.
Every Billie piece carries a lifetime warranty. If it ever breaks, fades or arrives damaged, we repair or replace it at no cost.
Looking after it
Very little is needed. Rinse it under warm water and dry it with a soft cloth when it stops catching light the way it did, which is usually a film of skin oil or soap rather than any damage to the finish. Avoid bleach and harsh cleaning products. Store it flat rather than tangled with other chains, so the prongs are not knocked against harder metal.
Chain, bracelet, or both
The tennis chain and the tennis bracelet are built to the same 4 mm width and the same finish, so they read as a set when worn together and neither looks unfinished on its own. Both come in silver and in 18K gold plated.
