Lab Grown Diamond Tennis Necklaces

Price is determined by total carat weight and individual stone size. Petite styles in the 4 to 5 CTW range start around $4,000 to $5,000. Classic styles in the 8 to 12 CTW range run $6,000 to $9,000. Larger styles in the 20 to 30 CTW range run $12,000 to $16,000. Statement pieces at 40 CTW and above run $20,000 to $30,000+.

The mined diamond comparison scales exponentially as individual stone size increases. At 5 CTW with smaller diamonds, a comparable natural F/VS diamond tennis necklace runs approximately $13,000 to $18,000. You can find options closer to $8,000 to $10,000, but at that price you will likely find lower quality H-I color and SI clarity stones, and it's still double the lab grown price. At 10 CTW, mined equivalents run $25,000 to $30,000+, roughly four times more. At 20 CTW with larger individual stones, comparable quality reaches $60,000 to $80,000 or more, six to eight times the lab grown price. At the statement end of the collection, a tennis necklace with 1 carat per stone in lab grown starts around $30,000. The natural diamond equivalent could be $350,000 to $500,000 or more. Before lab grown diamonds, that category of jewelry simply didn't exist for most people. Now it does.

The perfect size depends on the look you want, how you plan to wear it, and your own personal preferences. 7 to 8 CTW is a popular everyday range. A clean, continuous line of sparkle that reads as present without being heavy, and comfortable for all-day wear. If you go too much smaller on the diamonds, you run more risk of the necklace flipping. 10 to 12 CTW still falls in a classic size, with slightly larger diamonds that command a bit more presence on the neckline. For the average person, up to about 15 CTW could be an everyday size. Larger can still be worn every day, but 20 CTW and above  is where the piece becomes genuinely hard to miss from across the room.

Because lab grown diamonds make larger carat weights accessible at a fraction of the mined diamond price, many buyers end up choosing a size larger than they originally planned. That's not a bad outcome.

The most popular sizes are between 16-18 inches. 16 inches is the most popular standard length, sitting naturally at the collarbone for most necklines and the most versatile for everyday wear. 17 inches sits slightly lower, or for those with larger neck sizes, sits more comfortably just at or slightly below the collarbone. 18 inches is typically intended to drape below the collarbone. 

 A 14-inch length typically fits like a choker, while 15 inches sits just below the neckline. If your wardrobe tends to be higher necklines or crew necks, consider whether the necklace will actually be visible before committing to a shorter length. 

If you're layering multiple necklaces, it’s typically recommended to vary the lengths by at least 2 inches if you want that visual separation. 

All tennis necklaces can be custom-ordered to any length. Contact us at hello@labgrowndiamonds.com if you need something outside the standard options.

A tennis necklace can flip for a few reasons: craftsmanship, length, weight, or simply putting it on backwards. 

Craftsmanship: A well-made necklace has a balanced setting that distributes weight evenly across the full length, and links with enough flexibility to drape rather than hold a rigid shape. If the links are too tight or the settings are uneven, the necklace loses the flexibility it needs to lay flat. This is a construction quality issue, not something you can fix after the fact.

Length: Where the necklace sits on your neck matters as much as the length itself. A tennis necklace should rest just above or just below the collarbone so it can lay flat against the skin. If it lands directly across the collarbone, it won't lay flat and will flip. A 16-inch length works for most people, but neck size varies. If 16 inches sits awkwardly on your collarbone, try 17 inches, which tends to clear it and sit more comfortably just below.

Weight: At 5 CTW and under, lighter necklaces are more prone to flipping because there's less weight to anchor them against the skin. At 7 CTW and above, the necklace typically lays flat on its own. Graduated and riviera styles, where larger stones sit at the center, also anchor better than straight-line necklaces at lighter weights because the heavier center keeps the necklace positioned correctly. If you prefer smaller, more delicate diamonds but want fewer issues with flipping, a partial or half-tennis style is worth considering.

Orientation: Tennis necklaces are constructed to curve naturally in one direction. The links connect on one side, and that side is designed to sit against the neck. If the necklace feels stiff, sits awkwardly, or keeps flipping, check that you're wearing it the right way around. The side that bends easily toward you is the side that goes against your neck.

A straight tennis necklace uses identically sized diamonds from clasp to clasp. Every stone is the same weight and size. The result is a perfectly uniform line of light across the neckline.

A riviera or graduated necklace uses stones that increase in size from the ends toward the center, creating a visual focal point at the front. The center stone or stones read as the centerpiece, with the smaller side stones framing them. It drapes and anchors slightly differently than a uniform necklace, and tends to sit more naturally against the neckline at lighter carat weights.

Both styles use the same quality standards. The choice is whether you want a uniform line or a design with a visual center.

Prong settings hold each stone with small metal claws, keeping the diamond open to light on all sides for maximum sparkle. The prongs are intentionally minimal, keeping the focus on the diamonds rather than the setting. Bezel settings wrap each diamond in a continuous metal edge for a more modern look that's also snag-free and slightly more protective of the stone edges. In white gold, the bezel frames each stone cleanly and makes the diamond shape more prominent. In yellow gold, the metal becomes part of the statement, offering a bold contrast against the stones.

Both are built for daily wear. The choice is whether you want the diamonds or the setting to lead. Prong is the classic. Bezel is distinctly modern, and the right choice if you want the setting itself to be part of the design.

Soak in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a soft toothbrush to clean between links and behind each stone, where oils and product residue build up. Rinse completely with clean water and dry with a soft lint-free cloth. Store flat or in a soft pouch to prevent kinks in the links.

The clasp is the most mechanical component. If it starts to feel loose or the necklace shifts easily, have it checked before continuing to wear it daily.