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10k yellow gold

A client came to us wanting a pendant to mark a pregnancy loss at seven weeks, sized as close as possible to the scale of the baby at that stage. The original cut-out design could not hold the fine detail of tiny arms and legs at true scale, so the piece was reworked into a solid dimensional form instead. When it arrived, she wrote that it had made a real impact on her healing, and that the design came out exactly as she had pictured it.

'Oh Tricia! You have NO idea how much of an impact this necklace has made in my healing process. The design came out perfect and beautiful. I truly love it so much.' — on delivery

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Daily wear For herself Memorial In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

3D Cut out Human figure Memorial Symbolic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 10mm; cast dimensional (not cut-out) design. Complimentary gold-plated chain included; 16in 1.3mm cable chain offered separately.

How they made it distinctive

01
Cast at a true-to-scale size rather than enlarged, keeping the proportions matched to seven weeks of pregnancy
02
Shifted from a cut-out to a solid dimensional form specifically to preserve the fine detail of small limbs at true scale
03
10k gold chosen to keep the piece within a workable budget while still using solid, non-plated gold
04
Designed as a quiet everyday keepsake rather than a decorative statement piece

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is 10k yellow gold; the same design works in 14k or 18k gold, or white or rose gold

Chain: this piece ships with a gold-plated chain; a new commission could pair with a solid gold chain in a chosen length

Scale: this piece is cast true to a specific small size; a new commission can be sized to a different reference point

Form: this piece uses a solid dimensional shape; a slightly larger scale could allow an open cut-out version instead

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed for one client's own experience and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The design shifted from an open cut-out to a solid dimensional (3D) form after casting tests showed the arms and legs were too fine to survive as true cut-out details at the requested true-to-life size. This let the piece stay at the original small scale the client wanted rather than being enlarged to accommodate a cut-out.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants to carry a specific, private memory in a way that feels quiet rather than decorative. It's especially suited to anyone who has thought carefully about scale and proportion as part of what makes a keepsake feel true to what it represents.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the 3D model was printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was placed in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten 10k yellow gold was cast into that mold under pressure. After cooling, the raw pendant was removed from the mold and prepared for the finishing stages. Because the design holds fine dimensional details at a small scale, the piece was cleaned and polished carefully by hand to bring out the curled form without softening its edges. The bail was finished and fitted to accept a standard chain, and the pendant was paired with a complimentary gold-plated chain before a final quality check and shipping.

Key note

The design was changed from an open cut-out to a solid dimensional shape specifically because true-to-scale limbs were too fine to survive casting as cut-out details.

Pricing guidance

A small dimensional gold pendant like this sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. Because the piece is cast at a genuinely small scale, most of the cost comes from the precision required in the 3D modeling and hand-finishing rather than from the amount of metal used. Chain choice and metal karat are the two variables that move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 10k to 14k or 18k gold
↑
Choosing a solid gold chain instead of a gold-plated one
↑
Adding an engraved detail on the back of the pendant
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond the true-to-scale dimension requested here

Moves price down ↓

↓
Choosing a gold-plated silver base instead of solid gold
↓
Selecting a shorter, lighter-weight chain
↓
Simplifying the dimensional detail to a flatter silhouette

Questions people ask

Can you make a pendant that's true to the size of an early pregnancy?

Yes, though very small scales come with a tradeoff between an open cut-out design and a solid dimensional shape. At true seven-week scale, fine details like tiny limbs are often too delicate to survive casting as an open cut-out, so a solid dimensional form usually holds the detail better. The final size and style are worked out together during the 3D design phase before anything is cast.

What's the difference between a cut-out pendant and a dimensional pendant?

A cut-out pendant has open, negative space cut through the metal, so light passes through parts of the design. A dimensional pendant is a solid, sculpted shape with no open areas, similar to a small 3D figure. Cut-outs need enough material width to stay structurally sound during casting, which is why very fine details at a small scale are often better suited to a dimensional approach.

What does a small custom memorial pendant like this typically cost?

A small dimensional gold pendant sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing, since the piece uses a modest amount of metal even though it requires precise modeling. Metal choice is the biggest lever — 10k gold costs less than 14k or 18k for the same design. Chain choice is a separate cost on top of the pendant itself.

Is 10k gold real gold?

Yes, 10k gold is solid, genuine gold — it is not plated. The karat number refers to the proportion of pure gold mixed with other metal alloys for strength; 10k contains a lower percentage of pure gold than 14k or 18k, which makes it slightly more affordable and slightly more durable. It is a common choice for smaller pieces where budget is a consideration.

How long does it take to make a custom pendant like this?

The design phase typically takes about one week, during which a 3D render is created and refined based on feedback. Once the design is approved, production takes approximately three to four weeks, covering wax printing, casting, cleaning, and polishing. Total time from deposit to shipping is typically five to six weeks.

Can the chain length be changed after the pendant is made?

Yes, the pendant and chain are produced separately, so a different chain length or style can be sourced at any point, including after the pendant has already been delivered. Chain pricing varies by metal type and length; shorter or more delicate chains are generally less expensive than longer, heavier ones. Swapping chains does not require any changes to the pendant itself.

Can this design be made in a different metal color?

Yes, the same dimensional design can be cast in yellow, white, or rose gold, since the color comes from the alloy mixed into the gold rather than the design itself. Sterling silver or gold-plated silver are also options for a lower-cost version of the same design. The choice of metal does not affect the size or level of detail in the piece.