"I’m the first to admit that if there’s anything I’m a bit of a snob about, it’s jewelry. Whether that’s because I grew up with a grandma that never left the house without her stacks of 24k gold on or because I’m a truly lazy jewelry wearer—I tend to put pieces on and not take them off for months at a time—if there’s anything I’m willing to invest in, it’s a great necklace, ring, or pair of earrings.
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That said, even as an advocate for splurging on high-quality jewelry, the past year’s tennis jewelry trend has been one that even I can’t swallow the price tag of. Spending $6,000+ on a diamond tennis necklace would be great if I was in a different tax bracket or married into royalty, but as an average 28-year-old gal, isn’t exactly an option. As my heart yearned for adding a sparkly new addition to my daily necklace stack, but didn’t want to settle on a CZ piece from Amazon, I set out to find an in-between option that scratched the itch for a price that was less than months of my income.
Lucky for me, celeb-loved jewelry brand Dorsey began infiltrating my For You page. The direct-to-consumer, lab-grown gemstone brand gained popularity after being spotted on Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and even Taylor Swift in the All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) short film. To no one’s surprise, their pieces began gaining traction (their Kate necklace has sold out well over 50 times) due to their take on fine jewelry at prices even non-celebs can afford.
Dorsey’s ethos was exactly what I was hoping to find on my tennis necklace hunt: a piece that’s high-quality enough to wear every day, but at a price tag I could stomach, thanks to their use of lab-grown gemstones. When the brand offered to send me a piece to test out myself, I jumped at the opportunity to see if my favorite fashion creators were right in their testimonies that Dorsey was the best thing to happen to ever happen their jewelry collection. I opted to try the James Bezel tennis necklace, which features round, 3MM lab-grown sapphires in an 18k gold-coated silver bezel setting.
Here’s my honest review on Dorsey’s tennis necklace, plus our reader’s most-asked questions about Dorsey.
Are Dorsey diamonds real?
Dorsey’s jewelry is made with lab-grown sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, which are created in a controlled lab environment. The lab-grown stones are physically and chemically identical to mined stones, minus the environmental impact (and exorbitant price tag) of traditional forms of mining.
While my necklace is made of lab-grown sapphires, in my opinion, it looks identical to the lab-grown diamond jewelry I own. Even my mom (an even bigger jewelry expert than me) asked me when I got a diamond tennis necklace when she first saw it.
Can you shower in Dorsey’s tennis necklace?
Dorsey recommends avoiding water touching your jewelry completely, especially salt water and chemically altered water like in pools or jacuzzies. Moisture, chlorine, sweat and other types of moisture can discolor and damage your jewelry, so I do opt to take it off when I shower and swim; however, it’s something I don’t mind considering how easy its double-sided latch clasp is to take on and off. Not only does it make it feel extra-secure on my neck, but I find it much easier to maneuver than the lobster clasps that are on most of my necklaces.
My review on Dorsey’s tennis necklace
As a pretty consistent gold wearer (though I do love silver and platinum tennis styles for a mixed metal moment) I opted for Dorsey’s James necklace in gold. The necklace features round, 3MM lab-grown sapphires in an 18k gold-coated silver bezel setting. I wanted my necklace to look similar to a choker, but since tennis necklaces tend to fall a bit shorter on the neck due to their circular design, I opted for the 16 inch (which looks significantly shorter on my neck than my other 16-inch necklaces). The length was exactly what I hoped for, and off the bat, I was surprised by how comfortable it felt on my neck. Since it’s a little bit more substantial than what I usually wear, I feared I’d be conscious of it on my neck, but I immediately forgot I even had it on.
Since I got the necklace in May, I’ve worn it almost every single day. It’s proven to be high-quality, durable, and has earned me a countless amount of compliments over the past five months. Whether I’m wearing jeans and a tank or a formal dress for a wedding, my tennis necklace has served as my new wear-everywhere piece that completes every single outfit I wear.
Are Dorsey tennis necklaces worth it?
Despite months of daily wear, my tennis necklace still looks as beautiful and sparkly as the day I unboxed it. I’m absolutely in love with how luxe and elevated it instantly makes me feel, and it’s a piece I’m looking forward to keeping on my neck for many years to come. Given its $600 price tag, though, affordable is a relative statement—despite being more budget-friendly than a diamond tennis necklace, it is still very much an investment. But if you’ve been considering splurging on one of Dorsey’s pieces and have been holding out wondering if they’re worth it, my answer would be a solid “yes.” They also have more affordable options than the James—their princess cut necklace is $300 and their baguette bracelet is $100—if you’re looking for a piece to treat yourself at a lower price point.
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstorms, writes, and edits stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more. She’s always keeping a pulse on the latest trends to create timely, exciting content for our readers.