The history of ornamental bracelets goes way back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians when simple adornments were made from gold, semi-precious stones and colored glass. The materials have been refined since then as have the skills and techniques of the craftsmen involved. Bracelets have been crafted from precious metals like gold and silver for thousands of years, but it was not until the 14th Century that cut diamonds were first set in bracelets and other pieces of fine jewelry.
The earliest diamond bracelets were made by setting diamonds in the ornamental links of gold chains. These evolved with new settings and more ornate and flexible links to become known as in-line diamond bracelets. The chain and settings were original made from red, yellow or white gold with other metals such as platinum and palladium becoming increasingly popular in the 20th Century.
The traditional in-line diamond bracelet became known as the tennis bracelet and an overnight fashion sensation as a result of a clasp on Chris Evert's bracelet breaking at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship in 1987. A worldwide TV audience watched while she recovered her spilt diamonds from the court and then rushed to the jewelers to buy one of those "diamond tennis bracelets". The rest as they say is history.
Diamond bracelets, like their relatives the diamond necklaces, now come in many forms and are indispensible fashion accessories of the rich and famous. In addition to the iconic tennis bracelet, other popular types of bracelet include the diamond bangle bracelet and elegant gold or platinum link bracelets accented with diamonds and other gemstones.