Best friends are the family we choose for ourselves – the ones who stick by our side through thick and thin, laughing with us in our happiest moments and supporting us in our darkest times. A best friends necklace is a beautiful way to celebrate and symbolize that special, unbreakable bond. Whether you’ve been inseparable since kindergarten or found your platonic soulmate later in life, a matching necklace set is a tangible reminder that your friendship can withstand any distance or obstacle.
As someone who has been blessed with an incredible best friend for over 15 years, I can’t overstate how much a simple necklace has meant to me. Stephanie and I met on the first day of middle school and instantly hit it off over our shared love of books, video games, and questionable fashion choices. We’ve been through everything together – good report cards and bad breakups, family drama and teenage angst. When we went to different colleges, we both felt that ache of missing our bestie. That’s when I surprised her with a dainty necklace set that read “Best” and “Friends” so we’d always have a piece of each other, no matter how many miles separated us.
Etsy: The Best Place for Unique Handmade BFF Necklaces
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind best friends necklace, Etsy should be your first stop. This online marketplace is an absolute treasure trove of handmade and vintage jewelry created by independent artists and designers. You’ll find every style imaginable – from quirky and kitschy to minimalist and chic.
One of the major benefits of shopping on Etsy is the incredible option for personalization. Many sellers offer customization like engraving your names, birthdates, zodiac signs, or a meaningful phrase. You can even request specific designs or adjustments to create something completely unique to your friendship.
Here are some of my favorite Etsy shops for best friend necklaces:
| Shop Name | Description | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Lil and Izzie | Dainty handstamped designs with modern flair | $25 – $55 |
| Clay Bae Studio | Quirky polymer clay charms and pendants | $18 – $38 |
| J Luree Designs | Delicate handmade necklaces with meaningful symbols | $35 – $65 |
Personal Favorite: The “Soulmates” Necklace from Clay Bae Studio
One Etsy purchase that really stands out is the adorable “Soulmates” best friend necklace set I got for Steph’s birthday a few years ago. Created by the incredibly talented Clay Bae Studio, it features two halves of a bright red heart – one saying “Soul” and the other “Mate.” The kawaii-style polymer clay charms are connected by deux petites gold chains.
What I love most about these necklaces is that they perfectly capture our quirky, playful friendship. We’ve never taken ourselves too seriously, filling our years together with lots of inside jokes, silly dances, and relentless puns. This cheeky set represents the immaturity and authentic goofiness that has defined our bond from the start.
Beyond the design itself, I really appreciated the quick shipping and beautifully packaged presentation from Clay Bae Studio. The necklaces arrived just days after ordering, tucked into a branded box with a handwritten thank you note. Those kind of personal touches make Etsy purchases so memorable.
Popular Jewelry Pie Chart
Affordable Best Friend Necklace Sets from Major Retailers
While the individuality of handmade necklaces is undeniably charming, sometimes you just want an affordable, fuss-free option from a familiar retailer. Plenty of popular brands and stores offer best friend necklace sets at very reasonable price points, making them perfect for gifting or treating yourself and your BFF.
You’ll find solid selections of matching necklaces at:
- Claire’s
- Forever 21
- Macy’s
- Nordstrom
- Target
One significant perk of shopping with bigger brands? They tend to have frequent sales and promotions that can score you a great deal. While writing this article, I spotted:
| Retailer | Promo |
|---|---|
| Macy’s | Buy one jewelry item, get 50% off the second |
| Forever 21 | Buy one, get one free sitewide (including jewelry) |
| Claire’s | 15% off orders over $30 with code SQUAD15 |
So if budget is a priority, definitely keep an eye out for those kinds of sales before purchasing.
Personal Favorite: The Nordstrom “Bestie” Pendant Necklaces
In my own hunt for affordable best friend jewelry, a standout has been the “Bestie” Pendant Necklaces from Nordstrom’s BP. jewelry line. For around $25, you get a set of two 16″ chains – one with a cute enamel “BEST” pendant and the other with a miniature charm that says “IE” stylized like a text message.
I picked these up a few months ago as a spontaneous “just because” gift for Steph, and we both ended up absolutely loving them. The quality and craftmanship is impressive for the price point, with a nice weight and polish to the pendants. The necklaces feel cheerful and youthful while still appropriate for us as adults in our late 20s.
My only minor complaint is that the chains are a little too dainty and prone to tangling for my personal preference. However, Nordstrom offers an option to buy the “Bestie” pendants on a stronger cable chain that may solve that issue.
Splurge-Worthy Best Friend Jewelry from Specialty Stores
For a truly luxurious, investment-quality best friends necklace, you’ll want to treat yourselves to a piece from an upscale jewelry designer or brand. These necklaces are meant to be cherished and passed down as heirloom pieces celebrating your everlasting sisterhood.
Some exceptional sources for high-end BFF necklaces include:
- Local fine jewelry boutiques
- Specialty online stores like Uncommon Goods and Jewlr
- Brands like David Yurman, Kendra Scott, and Alex and Ani
You can expect to pay $100 to $1000+, but the craftsmanship and precious metals/stones are well worth the splurge. Many of these jewelers also offer personal engravings, diamond customizations, and other bespoke touches.
Personal Favorite: The “Best Friends” Diamond Locket from Kendra Scott
My all-time favorite luxury best friend necklace has to be the “Best Friends” Locket from Kendra Scott. This exquisite 14k yellow gold oval pendant comes embellished with two tiny pavé diamonds on the front, with room for two small photos inside. One side bears the word “Best” and the other says “Friends” in Kendra’s signature uppercase text.
Back in 2018, Steph and I decided to go all-out and buy these matching lockets to celebrate our 10-year “best-friend-iversary.” At $298 each, it was an indulgent purchase but one we’ve never regretted. These lockets are so gorgeous and well-made, with a nice weight and attractive engraving.
My favorite part is being able to insert miniature photos of us inside the locket. On my side, I put a snapshot from our high school homecoming where we’re gleefully posing in our overly-primped updo hairstyles and taffeta dresses. Steph chose an image of us at college graduation, stressed but overjoyed as we hugged in our caps and gowns.
Whenever I’m missing my best friend or just want a reminder of all the milestones we’ve been through, I can open up the locket and let those happy memories wash over me. It’s more than just beautiful jewelry – it’s a wearable keepsake capturing the most meaningful friendship of my life.
Fun and Creative Ways to Personalize Your BFF Necklaces
No matter where you end up purchasing your best friend necklaces, I highly recommend adding some form of personalization to make the design uniquely yours. These custom touches elevate it from a generic accessory to a piece with deep sentimental value.
Here are some easy customization ideas to consider:
- Engravings: Have your names, initials, nicknames, anniversary date, or an inside joke etched into the metal. Many jewelers offer this for a small fee.
- Birthstones: Incorporate both you and your friend’s birthstones into the design using colored gemstones or crystals.
- Charms: Add dangling letter charms, symbols (like hearts or infinity loops), or tiny trinkets meaningful to your friendship.
- DIY Decoration: Get a simple chain or plain metal pendant and go wild decorating it yourselves with beads, charms, fun washi tape, or sharpie designs.
Your imaginations are the only limit! The more personalized touches, the more your friendship necklace will capture the unique spirit and inside jokes of your bond.
Steph and My DIY Necklace Mishap (And How We Turned it Around)
Speaking of DIY decoration, I have to share a hilarious memory of Steph and I attempting to customizer our own BFF necklaces in high school. We bought these really simple, cheap chain necklaces from Claire’s with the intent of covering them with colorful letter beads, charms, etc.
Well, the afternoon quickly devolved into a mess of scattered beads, tangled chains, and a few too many broken necklace clasps. We just could NOT get the designs right! Finally, we gave up on the original plan…but still didn’t want the chains to go to waste.
In a stroke of creativity (or mayhem?), we decided to make “ugly necklaces” instead. We mashed all the beads and charms together into these misshapen, garish necklaces practically dripping in plastic nonsense. We then proudly wore them to school the next day, giggling endlessly as our friends asked what in the world we had on.
It was immensely stupid but also such a perfect capture of our ability to make fun out of any situation together. Now over 10 years later, those silly “ugly necklaces” have become a cherished keepsake symbolizing the unrestrained silliness and weirdness that has been the foundation of our friendship.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Best Friends Necklace
With so many amazing options out there for BFF necklaces, the hardest part might just be narrowing it down to “the one.” To help guide your decision, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Match your personal style: Are you looking for a dainty, delicate necklace or something more bold and eye-catching? Classic typography or funky shapes/charms? Find designs that complement both you and your friend’s aesthetic.
- Set a budget: Quality necklaces range anywhere from $10 to over $1,000, so get on the same page about how much you’re willing to splurge. It’s the thought that counts most!
- Metal preferences: Consider if you both prefer yellow gold, rose gold, sterling silver, etc. Buy necklaces in a metal you know you’ll love wearing.
- Necklace length: Decide if you want matching chokers, princess length, opera length, etc. Or get adjustable chains to suit both your preferences.
At the end of the day, the “best” best friend necklace is the one that speaks to your unique bond and history together. I can’t wait for you to find “your” necklace!
Create a Special Unboxing Moment with Your Best Friend
Once you’ve secured those dazzling BFF necklaces, plan a cute unboxing or gifting moment with your best friend. Make an occasion of exchanging and trying them on together for the first time.
A few fun ideas to make it extra memorable:
- Meet up for brunch, then gift each other your necklaces over mimosas
- Surprise them by tucking it into a bouquet of their favorite flowers
- Make a whole present “basket” with fun snacks, childhood photos, and other nostalgic knick-knacks
- Recreate a special moment from your past and give it to them then
- Video record each other’s reaction as you open your gifts!
However you choose to do it, take the time to reminisce over your history together. Really let the presentation of these necklaces honor your priceless friendship and remind you both why it will endure lifetimes.
Share Your Bestie Necklace Pride with the World
Last but not least, be sure to show off those fresh new BFF accessories! Take cute photos together rocking your necklaces and share them on social media. Post them to your Instagram feeds, Stories, TikTok – wherever your friends and followers can join in celebrating your special bond. (Maybe even use a fun “Best Friends” filter or geotag!)
You can also send me pictures here! I’d love to see the beautiful necklaces you picked and hear more about what makes your friendship so amazing. Putting together this guide has reminded me how lucky I am to have a best friend as wonderful as Steph, and I’m sure reading it has brought up some of your own cherished bestie memories.
So don’t be shy – proudly showcase your necklaces to the world and let everyone bask in your glorious friendship! You two deserve to be celebrated.