Gauge Inc BFF Necklace

What kind of friend wouldn't love a handmade necklace?

These necklaces by Brooklyn-based Gauge Inc. are 14K gold and come with a hefty price tag of $100. However, as you can see, they are totally doable for a DIY. And I'm sure your friend will love the handmade version much better!

These necklaces are super easy to make; you literally trace your handwriting with wire. Best part is you can use any color of craft wire to suit your bestie's tastes. Make one for them and one for yourself! Add charms, even, to the bottom of the f's for some sparkle maybe? Go wild!

Let's get started.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers, plain craft wire (nothing special here!), a necklace chain and jump rings, a pencil, paper.

Step 2: Draw the form for your pendant. Make it look like this, or as close as you can get. The dimensions of the BFF are about 1.25" long and .75" high. Now, take a long piece of your craft wire, about a foot or so. Start at the loop above the "B". Simply curl the wire with round nose pliers to start. Then, "trace" your BFF with your wire, using your pliers and fingers to hold and bend the wire in place.

Step 3: Continue to trace. I have pictured the steps I took here. Make the wire fit your BFF form as close as possible. I used my fingers a lot to gently bend the wire in the right direction, then used my round nose pliers to get the details and precise form. 

Step 4: Sharpen the "F". I squeezed the bottom of the "F" with a flat pliers to get more of a sharp arc instead of a rounded one (second pic), to match cursive writing better. Then, when you've reached the end of the last "F", cut the wire with a little more than .25" to spare (last pic). Make a finishing loop with this excess.

Step 5: When you've got it finished, flatten the pendant so it's nice and flat and lays properly. Then, attach your jump rings on the loop on the "B" and top of the last "F", and attach these to your necklace chain. Finished.

Surprise your friend/s with these awesome necklaces! 

Dainty and cute!

A close-up.

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated!