For its 10th anniversary, luxury jewelry and watch retailer Material Good is positioning itself for expansion with a new brand ambassador, tennis champ Aryna Sabalenka, and the first of multiple store openings planned in 2026.
Material Good opened it newest boutique, in Boston, this month, while Sabalenka, the world’s No. 1-ranked female tennis player, made her first appearance as Material Good’s ambassador wearing a custom necklace and matching earrings (pictured above) at the Australian Open in January.
The company will also open boutiques in Dallas and “another location” this year, says its director of marketing and fine jewelry, Teresa Panico. The Boston store, located on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, measures 2,500 square feet and includes a second-floor gathering space, a fireplace lounge with a vintage vibe, a communal dining table, and a private salon.
“We can’t wait to bring the Material Good experience to these cities while continuing to expand the Material Good jewelry collection, deepen our relationships with the incredible independent watch brands we’re proud to partner with, and provide access to rare vintage through our Found & Collected jewelry drops and our curated collection of pre-owned watches,” says Panico.
She says Material Good wanted a brand ambassador whose connection to its jewelry was authentic—Sabalenka wore Material Good during her 2025 U.S. Open victory, and a relationship developed naturally from there. The tennis pro will represent Material Good on and off of the court throughout the 2026 season, including at Grand Slam tournaments and other events.
“For me, it was about the right person,” Panico says. “Seeing how genuinely excited she was to wear our pieces on the court was incredibly inspiring—it felt effortless and real. That energy translated immediately to her fans and everyone watching; people were curious, engaged, and wanted to know more about the jewelry.
“Our conversations after the U.S. Open felt very aligned, especially as we started envisioning her on-court style for 2026,” adds Panico, describing Sabalenka as “a force” and a person who embodies the strength, power, and confidence of Material Good clients.
The tennis pro created her Australian Open jewelry suite in collaboration with Material Good’s designers. It was inspired by the coastal location of Melbourne, where the tournament takes place, and also had to complement Sabalenka’s vibrant Nike court attire, explains Material Good head of jewelry design Atara Lev.
“Aryna possesses a very powerful athleticism. Every on-court motion has her entire body behind it, and this has always been at the top of mind when designing for her—the pieces need to be created for endurance,” she says.
To that end, Material Good made small but effective production choices. “The Australian Open pendant is sizable, but the entire back has been hollowed out, as it would be distracting and uncomfortable for Aryna to play while wearing an incredibly heavy gold pendant, which would hit her chest with every jump and lunge,” says Lev.
In addition, the necklace chain has heavyweight open links, because they wouldn’t cut into Sabalenka’s neck as she moves and her muscles tighten, whereas a lighter-weight, thinner-gauge chain would. Open links also don’t trap as much sweat and are easier to clean.
“And the Australian Open earrings were created specifically with small, unobtrusive omega backs so that Aryna wouldn’t have to fuss with earring backs separate from the piece, and to provide an added layer of security, knowing that she can move around to the full extent of her power without worrying about an earring flying off,” Lev says.
Panico says of Sabalenka: “She isn’t afraid to take risks, and she wants to feel good on the court while doing what she loves—jewelry plays a huge role in that self-expression.”
(Top photo courtesy of Material Good/Getty Images)
- Subscribe to the JCK News Daily
- Subscribe to the JCK Special Report
- Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on X: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
