Links of London produced a wide range of sporting charms during the original years of the house, but some of the most effective designs were also among the simplest.

The I Love Tennis Heart Charm combines a polished sterling silver heart with a graphic inscription reading “I [tennis ball] Tennis”. Instead of using the familiar heart symbol within an “I Love…” message, the design substitutes an engraved tennis ball, turning the entire heart-shaped charm into the expression of affection.

It is a small piece, but one that combines typography, sporting imagery and the familiar Links of London charm format particularly neatly.

Vintage Links of London I Love Tennis Heart Charm in sterling silver

I Love Tennis in Sterling Silver

The front of the charm is deliberately uncomplicated.

A dotted-style engraved “I” sits above the word “Tennis”, with a stylised tennis ball positioned between them. The ball is defined by its familiar curved seam pattern rather than by colour or enamel.

The polished heart itself therefore becomes part of the message: visually, the design reads as an interpretation of “I Love Tennis”.

This approach gives the charm a different character from more literal sporting designs such as miniature rackets, balls or trophies. The tennis reference is graphic rather than sculptural.

Links of London silver tennis heart charm front view

A Flat Heart Charm Format

A surviving sterling silver example documented by Links London measures approximately:

• Height: 18mm
• Width: 17mm
• Thickness: 1.2mm

The relatively flat construction provides enough surface area for the engraved message while keeping the charm light enough for bracelet or necklace wear.

The reverse is kept substantially plain, with a small Links of London three-ring device providing the principal identifying detail.

I Love Tennis heart charm with engraved tennis ball motif

Standard Links of London Bail

The charm is fitted with the familiar Links of London oval charm and pendant bail measuring approximately 9mm × 7mm.

This allows it to be worn directly from a compatible necklace or bracelet up to approximately 5mm wide.

For Sweetie bracelet wear, the charm can also be attached using a sterling silver split ring, allowing it to sit among other collected charms rather than being threaded directly onto the bracelet.

Vintage sterling silver Links of London tennis charm

A Surviving 2011 Example

The example documented here is hallmarked LL, 925 with a date letter for 2011.

The dated hallmark confirms the date of this particular surviving charm. It does not establish 2011 as the introduction year of the design, which may have been available across a wider period.

Surviving examples are commonly described as the I Love Tennis Heart Charm, although an original catalogue product reference and retail price for the design have not yet been recovered.

Links of London heart charm measuring 18mm high

Tennis Without Wimbledon Branding

Tennis appeared repeatedly within Links of London’s wider sporting jewellery, including designs associated with the house’s long relationship with Wimbledon.

This particular heart, however, carries no visible Wimbledon name or tournament branding. It is therefore best documented simply as a Links of London tennis charm unless original material is recovered that connects the exact design to a specific collection.

That distinction matters when documenting surviving Links of London jewellery: subject matter alone is not enough to establish collection membership.

Sterling silver tennis heart charm with engraved lettering

Engraving as the Design

The charm is also interesting because the engraving is not merely an inscription added to an otherwise generic heart. It is the central design feature.

The dotted lettering and outlined tennis ball create the visual identity of the piece, while the polished sterling silver heart acts almost as a small signboard for the message.

This means that preservation of the engraved surface is particularly important. Excessive polishing could soften the lettering and tennis-ball lines that give the design its character.

Links of London I Tennis charm with tennis ball symbol

Vintage Surface and Preservation

The surviving example documented here has been professionally cleaned and polished and remains in good vintage condition.

Some light marks from previous use remain visible on the polished surface. These have deliberately not been removed aggressively because doing so could compromise the original engraving.

Those small traces of wear are therefore preferable to over-restoration: the inscription remains crisp and the charm retains the character of a genuine vintage piece.

Vintage Links of London heart charm showing polished silver surface

A Small Sporting Design with a Clear Message

At only 18mm high, the I Love Tennis Heart is a compact charm, but the combination of heart shape, lettering and tennis-ball motif gives it an unusually clear identity.

It sits comfortably within the wider Links of London charm tradition while approaching the sporting subject differently from the more literal miniature objects produced elsewhere in the range.

The surviving 2011 example provides a useful reference for the design through its dimensions, hallmark, bail construction and engraved detail, helping to document another small part of the original Links of London charm catalogue.

2011 Links of London sterling silver tennis charm