Tennis champ Venus Williams is getting into the fine jewelry game with the debut of Diamond Match, a collection she designed and developed in collaboration with acclaimed New York City jeweler Reinstein Ross.
Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings in the collection are made with 22k peach gold and diamonds—specifically, pavé diamonds, a setting style Williams has always favored, according to a press release announcing the collaboration.
The overall design of the 14 pieces draws inspiration from a ring Williams frequently wears during her matches. (The athlete is known for wearing diamond jewelry on the court, especially hoop earrings.)
“I was thrilled to partner with Reinstein Ross because of their commitment to creating pieces that are both brilliant and one-of-a-kind,” Williams said in a prepared statement. “For me, jewelry has always been more than just an accessory—it’s been a means of self-expression, both on and off the court.
“We designed each piece in this collection as a testament to the belief that fashion should not be about conforming to someone else’s idea of beauty, but about celebrating your own. It’s about inspiring women to be unapologetically themselves, and to cherish their inner radiance.”
Reinstein Ross found an enthusiastic partner in Williams. When Diamond Match was released earlier this month, she spoke to WWD about her affinity for jewelry: “If I wasn’t buying it, I was always looking at everything: every collection, all the brands; it was just something I’ve always loved.”
Williams prepared for the project with an abundance of ideas. Reinstein Ross CEO Sarah Blair tells JCK that “when Venus first started working with Reinstein Ross, she showed up with a 20- to 30-page presentation.”
Blair says Reinstein Ross reached out to Williams to inquire about a possible collaboration. Though Williams is based in Jupiter, Fla., she made frequent trips to the store’s recently opened Madison Avenue flagship while the jewelry line was in development.
Williams worked for four months with Reinstein Ross’ creative team and expert goldsmiths on concepts, ultimately landing on a selection that melds the tennis star’s vision of a jewelry line with the jeweler’s 38-year heritage and design signatures (e.g., richly textured gold, custom-blended alloys, and timeless chain links).
Reinstein Ross has always embraced the notion of quiet luxury (before it was a thing): In the 1990s, when it was still a fairly new company, minimalism was the reigning aesthetic in fashion, especially in SoHo, the NYC neighborhood where the jeweler had its first shop. Never one to make waves on or off the court—but a determined competitor at all times—Williams’ sensibility appears to match that of her jewelry partner.
“Venus [brought] her own sense of style, empowerment, and design expertise to the collaboration,” adds Blair.
As part of this creative endeavor, Reinstein Ross has given Williams the title of designer in residence—which hopefully means she’ll have the opportunity to ace another collection.
Diamond Match pieces range from $2,800 to $25,000 and are available for purchase in-store or on the Reinstein Ross website.
Top: Tennis champion Venus Williams serves up a smile—and plenty of sparkle—in the Reinstein Ross atelier. She collaborated with the NYC jeweler on her debut jewelry line, Diamond Match, and holds the title of designer in residence.
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