Home Get Inspired Pendants Bell Rock Pendant — Rustic 18k Gold Relief Medallion

A round 18k yellow gold pendant with an irregular, organic edge and a hammered-texture rim, featuring a raised relief carving of a rocky mountain formation at the center, hanging from an oval link chain.

Bell Rock Pendant — Rustic 18k Gold Relief Medallion

$$$

18k yellow gold

A client wanted to carry a specific desert landmark with him — a mountain tied to his relationship — timed to an anniversary. He asked for it to look hand-carved rather than polished, and refined the design through two rounds of feedback: adding a hammered texture to the rim, and considering (then setting aside) a turquoise inlay before settling on the design as rendered.

'This looks really nice.' — on seeing the first render

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Anniversary Daily wear Gift for partner A Gift That Says Everything Anniversary

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 18k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Anniversary Building landmark Hammered Nautical Nugget texture Organic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Anniversary

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 1 1/16–1 1/8 inches (27–29mm) diameter. Chain: 2.4mm oval link, 18in.

How they made it distinctive

01
Depicts a specific named rock formation rather than a generic mountain or landscape silhouette
02
Irregular, non-circular outline chosen deliberately to avoid a machined, overly polished look
03
Hammered rim texture added after the first render specifically to reinforce the rustic aesthetic
04
Turquoise inlay was considered but intentionally left out once the production constraint was explained, keeping the design achievable
05
Paired with a substantial oval-link chain in matching 18k gold rather than a lighter standard chain

How you'd make it yours

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

Texture: this piece uses a hammered rim with a smooth central relief; a new commission could use an all-polished or all-matte finish instead

Landmark: this piece depicts a specific rock formation; a new commission could render any landmark, building, or natural feature from a reference photo

Chain: this piece pairs with a heavier oval-link chain; a lighter cable chain or different link style works equally well

Reverse side: currently plain; a new commission could add engraving or a date on the back

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed around one specific landmark for one client and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The rim was changed from smooth to a hammered texture after the client reviewed the first render, reinforcing the rustic look he wanted. A turquoise inlay on the back was considered but dropped once he learned custom-cutting the stone to fit wasn't feasible without a dedicated stone cutter.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants to carry an actual place with them, not just a generic symbol. It suits someone who prefers a rustic, hand-worked look over a high-polish finish, and who's drawn to marking a meaningful anniversary with something tied to a real memory of a specific location.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the pendant was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold. Molten 18k yellow gold was then cast into the mold under pressure and allowed to cool before the raw piece was removed for finishing. After casting, the piece was cleaned and prepared in stages: the mountain relief was polished smooth to contrast with the surrounding field, while the outer rim was textured with a hammered finish to reinforce the rustic, hand-worked look the client requested. The irregular, non-perfect-circle outline was shaped deliberately rather than cut true, so the contour itself reads as organic rather than machined.

Key note

The pendant's rim was hammered by hand after casting specifically to avoid the "too polished" look the client wanted to steer away from — a deliberate departure from the smoother finish shown in the first render.

Pricing guidance

A medium-sized landscape relief pendant in 18k gold with a paired statement chain sits toward the higher end for custom pendant work, largely because of the gold weight in both the pendant and the chain. Hand-finishing — the hammered rim and the sculpted relief — adds labor cost beyond a flat engraved disc. Chain choice can move the total significantly since a heavier link chain in high-karat gold often costs nearly as much as the pendant itself.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 14k to 18k gold, which has a higher gold content by weight
↑
Choosing a heavier, thicker chain (like the 2.4mm oval link chosen here) instead of a lighter cable chain
↑
Increasing the pendant's size or thickness, which adds more gold weight
↑
Adding a hand-set gemstone inlay rather than a cast-only design
↑
Engraving the reverse side with text or additional imagery

Moves price down ↓

↓
Choosing 14k gold instead of 18k for a lower gold content by weight
↓
Selecting a thinner, lighter chain such as a 1.3–1.5mm cable chain
↓
Reducing the pendant diameter from just over an inch to a smaller scale
↓
Using sterling silver with gold plating instead of solid gold
↓
Skipping the hand-hammered rim texture in favor of a simpler polished edge

Questions people ask

Can you make a pendant based on a real mountain or landmark photo?

Yes, a specific rock formation or landmark can be modeled in relief from a reference photo. The design team builds a 3D model that captures the silhouette and major rock features, which is then shared as a render for approval before anything is cast. Because it's modeled rather than photo-etched, the result reads as a sculpted, dimensional piece rather than a flat image. Fine details like individual rock striations can be included if they're visible in the reference photo.

What does an 18k gold landscape pendant like this typically cost?

A pendant of this size and complexity in 18k gold, including a substantial matching chain, sits toward the higher end of the pricing range for pendant work. Most of that cost comes from the gold weight itself, since 18k gold contains more pure gold by weight than 14k, and a heavier statement chain can add nearly as much as the pendant. Hand-finishing details like a hammered rim also add labor time beyond a simple polished disc. Choosing 14k gold and a lighter chain are the two biggest ways to bring the cost down.

Why does the pendant have an irregular, non-perfectly-round shape?

The uneven outline was a deliberate design choice, not a flaw. The client specifically asked for the piece to avoid looking too polished or machine-made, so the outline was shaped to feel organic and hand-worked rather than cut as a true circle. This rustic approach extended to the rim as well, which has a hammered texture rather than a smooth polished edge. Together these choices give the pendant a handcrafted character that a perfectly symmetrical disc wouldn't have.

Can you add a gemstone inlay to a pendant like this?

It depends on the stone and the design. A flat gemstone inlay, like turquoise, generally requires custom-cutting the stone to fit a specific recessed shape, which needs a stone cutter who can produce that precise custom cut. When that resource isn't available, a colored enamel fill is often suggested as an alternative that achieves a similar color effect without custom stone-cutting. It's worth asking early in the design process, since it can affect the pendant's thickness and construction.

Is 18k or 14k gold better for a pendant like this?

Both are durable choices for a pendant that will see regular wear. 18k gold contains a higher percentage of pure gold (75%) compared to 14k (58.3%), giving it a richer, warmer color, but it's also somewhat softer and typically costs more for the same design. 14k gold is more scratch-resistant and more budget-friendly while still being a solid, long-lasting choice. The decision usually comes down to preferred color tone and gold content versus overall cost.

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

The design phase, from approved brief to a finished 3D render, typically takes about a week. Once the design is approved, production — wax printing, casting, cleaning, and finishing — generally takes a few additional weeks depending on complexity and finishing details like hand-hammering. Rush timelines are sometimes possible if there's a firm deadline, such as an anniversary date, but should be flagged as early as possible in the process. Chain sourcing can also factor into the total timeline depending on the style chosen.

What's the difference between a hammered finish and a polished finish on gold jewelry?

A polished finish is smoothed to a uniform, reflective shine, while a hammered finish has small, irregular facets left by a hammering tool that scatter light differently and create a more textured, organic look. Hammered finishes are often chosen specifically to avoid a mass-produced appearance and to suggest a handmade quality. They also tend to show fingerprints and smudges less than a high-polish surface. Both finishes are equally durable since the texture doesn't affect the underlying metal's strength.

Can the back of a pendant like this be customized?

Yes, the back of a pendant is commonly left available for engraving, a date, or additional personalization. In this case the client considered a turquoise inlay on the back but set it aside since custom-cutting the stone wasn't feasible at the time. A flat engraving of text or a short design is generally more straightforward to execute than an inlay, since it doesn't require sourcing a custom-cut stone.