Updated 8 October 2026
A tennis necklace is one unbroken line of diamonds, each in its own setting, worn close at the neck. Lengths of 16 to 18 inches sit at the base of the neck or on the collarbone. Our diamonds are ₹50,000 per carat plus gold and setting, and tennis necklaces start from around ₹3,24,500 for 3.5 carats in 14k gold.
What a tennis necklace is
Picture a line drawn in diamonds. Every stone sits in its own small setting, the settings are linked to one another, and the whole line bends with the neck. When every stone is the same size it is a classic tennis necklace. When the stones grow larger towards the centre it is a graduated line, traditionally called a rivière, from the French word for river.
The name comes from the tennis bracelet, the same line of diamonds made for the wrist, and our diamond tennis bracelet guide tells the story. A necklace is longer than a bracelet, so the line carries more stones: the necklaces on this page carry between 75 and 161 diamonds each.
Total carats and the size of each diamond
A tennis necklace is listed by carat total weight, the weight of every diamond in the line added together. The total does not tell you how big each stone is, and in a necklace the answer may surprise you. The round necklaces below run from 3.5 to 15.12 carats in all, yet the average diamond in each is only about 2.3 to 3.0 mm across. A single 0.25 carat diamond is 4.1 mm. A necklace gets its carats from the number of stones, not from large ones.
| Necklace | Total weight | Diamonds | Each diamond, on average | Width, about | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutra fine line | 3.50 ct | 79 | 0.04 ct | 2.3 mm | ₹3,24,500 |
| Sutra scalloped | 10.04 ct | 161 | 0.06 ct | 2.6 mm | ₹6,57,000 |
| Sutra four prong | 10.05 ct | 161 | 0.06 ct | 2.6 mm | ₹6,90,000 |
| Sutra buttercup | 10.10 ct | 119 | 0.08 ct | 2.9 mm | ₹6,99,000 |
| Sutra graduated | 15.12 ct | 158 | 0.10 ct | 3.0 mm | ₹9,35,500 |
The widths come from our diamond carat size chart, which gives 6.5 mm for a 1 carat round diamond and 4.1 mm for 0.25 carat. A diamond's width grows with the cube root of its weight, which is how the chart's own rows run, so the width of the average stone follows from its weight. The graduated line is an average: its stones start small at the sides and grow towards the centre. Prices are for 14k gold and move with the gold rate.
Many small stones set close together read as one fine thread of light. Fewer, larger stones read as separate points of light. Both are right, and it depends on whether she wants a whisper or a statement. Compare the number of diamonds as well as the total carats.
Settings and styles
The setting decides how much of each diamond you see and how the line catches the light along the neck.
The fine line
The classic. Small round diamonds set close together so the line reads as one thread.
Sutra four prong tennis necklace, from around ₹6,90,000. Round diamonds in four prongs, set close together, 10.05 carats across 161 stones.
Sutra fine line tennis necklace, from around ₹3,24,500. A line of 79 round diamonds across the front, with gold links continuing at the sides, 3.5 carats in all.
Buttercup
Each diamond sits in a raised cup of curved prongs, shaped like the flower it is named after, so the stones sit a little higher and the gold shows between them.
Sutra buttercup tennis necklace, from around ₹6,99,000. Round diamonds raised in buttercup settings, the largest stones of the round necklaces at this weight, 10.10 carats across 119 stones.
Scalloped
Prong tips show along the lower edge of the line, so the edge of the necklace is scalloped instead of smooth.
Sutra scalloped tennis necklace, from around ₹6,57,000. Round diamonds in prongs whose tips show along the lower edge, 10.04 carats across 161 stones.
Graduated
The rivière. Small stones at the sides grow larger towards the centre, so the eye goes to the middle of the neckline.
Sutra graduated tennis necklace, from around ₹9,35,500. 158 round diamonds growing larger towards the centre, 15.12 carats in all, the most carats of any necklace here.
Beyond the straight line
Oval diamonds are brilliant cuts that look longer than a round diamond of the same weight, and a line can carry a single larger stone or a drop.
Sutra oval station tennis necklace, from around ₹6,99,500. A line of round diamonds with one oval diamond set at the centre, 7.6 carats across 124 stones.
Sutra oval tennis necklace with a drop, from around ₹6,24,500. Oval diamonds in a line that gathers into a Y and drops to one larger oval, 5.1 carats across 75 stones.
See every tennis necklace, the round diamond necklaces or all our lab grown diamond necklaces. Every design here comes in yellow, rose or white gold, in 14k or 18k.
Tennis necklace length
Necklace length is measured in inches along the necklace. This is the table from our diamond pendant designs guide, and it applies to a tennis necklace too.
| Length | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| 16 inches, about 41 cm | At the base of the neck |
| 18 inches, about 46 cm | On or just below the collarbone |
| 20 to 22 inches, about 51 to 56 cm | Below the collarbone, above the chest |
| 24 inches, about 61 cm | At the top of the bust |
A tennis necklace is a line meant to be seen, so the first two lengths are the place to start: 16 inches frames the base of the neck, and 18 inches rests on the collarbone. Where a necklace sits also depends on your neck and on the neckline of what you wear, so ask us for the length of the exact necklace you like and try it on at a viewing. To wear it with other necklaces, our guide to layering diamond necklaces shows how to choose lengths for Indian necklines.
What a tennis necklace costs
The price follows three things: the total carats, the shape of the diamonds and the weight of gold. Every diamond is priced at ₹50,000 per carat, so a 4 carat line carries ₹2,00,000 of diamonds before the gold and setting are added. At Nivara, tennis necklaces start from around ₹3,24,500 for 3.5 carats, from around ₹6,57,000 for 10 carats and from around ₹9,35,500 for 15.12 carats, in 14k gold. Gold weight and shape move the price too, which is why a necklace of fewer carats can cost more than one of more. 18k gold costs more, and prices move with the gold rate. Every diamond meets the same standard as a solitaire: VVS clarity, E colour, ideal cut.
Before you choose
- Total carats and the number of diamonds. Together they tell you how big each stone is.
- The length of the exact necklace, and where that length sits on your neck.
- The setting. Four prong shows the most of each diamond, buttercup lifts the stones and shows the gold, and scalloped shows prong tips along the lower edge.
- The gold. Yellow, rose or white, in 14k or 18k.
- The same questions of every seller. Weighing lab grown diamond companies in India? Ask each one for the grading report of the exact necklace, and for its total carats and number of diamonds in writing.
Wearing and keeping it
- For every day, the fine line of small stones is the quietest way to wear a line of diamonds.
- For a wedding or a festival, choose the graduated line, whose larger stones gather at the centre of the neckline, or the buttercup, whose raised stones catch more light.
- To keep it bright, take it off for the gym, for swimming and for cleaning with chemicals, and store it flat in a soft pouch. Every piece comes with lifetime polishing, cleaning and prong tightening, so bring it in now and then to have the settings and the clasp checked.
Buying for a date
The pieces listed on our website usually take 18 to 20 days to deliver, depending on the design. Ask for the ready date of the exact necklace before you fix the date of a wedding or a festival, and count back from it.
What comes with every piece
- One diamond standard, whatever the budget: VVS clarity, E colour, ideal cut.
- IGI certification, and on solitaires the report number laser inscribed on the stone, so the paper and the diamond are one.
- 14k or 18k BIS hallmarked gold.
- A lifetime exchange at 100% of the current gold and diamond value, and a lifetime buyback at 100% gold and 85% diamond value.
- Lifetime polishing, cleaning and prong tightening, for as long as the piece is worn.
Try two lines side by side
A line of 79 small stones and a line of larger stones look closer in a photograph than they do at the neck. Book a private viewing and wear them one after the other at our showrooms in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Indore or Ahmedabad. Anywhere else in India or abroad, book a video consultation; we ship to 28 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many carats should a tennis necklace be?
It depends on the effect you want. At 3.5 carats the line is 79 small diamonds, a fine thread for every day. At about 10 carats, in 119 to 161 diamonds, it is a clear statement for weddings and evenings. At 15.12 carats the stones grow larger towards the centre and the necklace becomes the centrepiece. Total carats do not show the size of each stone, so compare the number of diamonds as well.
What length should a tennis necklace be?
At 16 inches, about 41 cm, a necklace sits at the base of the neck. At 18 inches, about 46 cm, it sits on or just below the collarbone. At 20 to 22 inches, about 51 to 56 cm, it falls below the collarbone. Ask us for the length of the exact necklace you like and try it on, since where it sits also depends on your neck and on the neckline you wear.
How much does a diamond tennis necklace cost?
The price follows the total carats, the shape of the diamonds and the weight of gold. Every diamond is ₹50,000 per carat, with the gold and setting added. At Nivara, tennis necklaces start from around ₹3,24,500 for 3.5 carats and from around ₹6,57,000 for 10 carats, in 14k gold. 18k gold costs more, and prices move with the gold rate.
Can you wear a tennis necklace every day?
Yes. A fine line of small stones suits every day. Before the gym, a swim or a clean with chemicals, take it off, and keep it flat in a soft pouch when you are not wearing it. Lifetime polishing, cleaning and prong tightening come with every piece, so bring it in now and then to have the settings and the clasp checked.
Why is it called a tennis necklace?
The name comes from the tennis bracelet. The player Chris Evert wore a diamond line bracelet that opened during a US Open match, and she asked for play to stop until it was found. The bracelet became known as a tennis bracelet, and the same line of diamonds made for the neck took the name.
