Best friend charms in solid 10K and 14K gold â pendants built to come apart, so two people each wear a piece of the same design. Most are hearts that separate into halves; others are cut like puzzle pieces that only fit each other, and a few split three ways for a group of three. Apart, each half is incomplete, which is the entire point of them.
The lettering is not only about friendship. Alongside BEST FRIEND, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER and #1 FRIEND there are pieces reading I LOVE YOU, FOREVER AND EVER and BOY/GIRL FRIEND, so the same break-apart idea works for a couple as well as for two friends. They are a common choice for a birthday, a graduation or someone moving away. See the wider range in break-apart heart pendants and heart design pendants, the single-piece designs in yellow gold heart charms, and graduation charms for the school-year version. Everything is in charm pendants.
More about best friend charms
How a break-apart pendant works
The design is made as one shape and cut so the parts interlock. A two-piece heart splits down the middle; a puzzle-cut pair separates along an irregular edge that only matches its own partner. Each part has its own bail, so each part hangs on its own chain. A three-piece divides the same shape between three people. Held together the design reads whole, and that is usually how it is photographed.
What the lettering says
Some pieces carry a word or phrase cut or stamped into the metal: BEST FRIEND, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, #1 FRIEND. Others are romantic rather than platonic â I LOVE YOU, FOREVER AND EVER, MY LOVE TO YOU I GIVE MY HEART, FROM MY HEART DIRECT TO YOURS. A number carry no words at all and rely on the shape, which is the quieter option if the recipient would rather not wear a slogan.
Metal and construction
Solid 10K and 14K gold, each piece stamped for its purity. Nothing here is gold plate or gold fill. Yellow gold carries most of the range, with white gold and a two-tone design as well. Finishes are mostly polished; a few are diamond-cut or textured, and one uses a filigree cut-out. Because these are worn daily and handled often â taken off, matched up, put back on â solid gold is the sensible choice over a softer material.
Size and chains
Most measure somewhere between 14 mm and 26 mm across the whole design, so each separated half is smaller again. That matters when choosing a chain: a half-heart is a light pendant and suits a fine chain rather than a heavy one. Remember that a two-piece design needs two chains if both people are wearing theirs on a necklace. Chains are in necklaces and chains.
Common questions
How does a break-apart best friend pendant work?
The pendant is made as one design and cut so the parts come apart and fit back together. Each part has its own bail, so each person hangs their piece on their own chain. Two-piece designs split between two people; a few split three ways.
Do you have sterling silver best friend charms?
Not on this page â every best friend design here is solid 10K or 14K gold. The store carries a large sterling silver charm range covering many other subjects, but the break-apart friendship designs are gold.
Does a two-piece pendant come with two chains?
No. These are sold as the pendant design, and chains are bought separately. If both people will wear their half on a necklace you need two chains. A separated half is light, so a fine chain is usually the better match.
Are these only for friends, or do they work for couples?
Both. Some read BEST FRIEND or BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, and others read I LOVE YOU, FOREVER AND EVER or BOY/GIRL FRIEND. Several carry no wording at all and work for either, which makes them the safer choice if you are unsure how the gift will land.
Can a best friend charm be engraved?
Most cannot. These are shaped and often cut-out designs with little flat surface on the back, and the lettering is already part of the design. One piece in the range is listed as engravable, so check the product page if engraving matters to you.
What size are they?
Most of the whole designs measure between about 14 mm and 26 mm across. Once separated, each half is smaller than that, which is worth picturing before buying for someone who prefers a larger pendant.
What occasion are these usually bought for?
Birthdays, graduations and goodbyes â someone moving away or changing schools is the most common reason. They also suit a milestone between a couple. Because the gift only works if both halves are given out, it is normally bought by one person and split with the other.
