Home Get Inspired Pendants Birthstone Heart & Cross Pendant in Rhodium Silver

A rhodium-plated white metal heart pendant outlined with teal-blue stones, containing a straight-edged cross set with alternating clear and blue stones, hanging from a chain on a marbled light blue surface.

Birthstone Heart & Cross Pendant in Rhodium Silver

Sterling silver, rhodium plating, alexandrite, aquamarine, moissanite

K. came to us shortly after losing her father, wanting to make her mother something to wear every day in his memory. The aquamarine marks his March birthday, the alexandrite represents both her and her mother's birthstone, and the moissanite was added simply because her mother loves sparkle. When it finally arrived, she wrote: 'It is beautiful! Thank you! I'm so excited to give it to my mom.'

'It looks beautiful!' — on seeing the final render

'It is beautiful! Thank you! I'm so excited to give it to my mom.' — on delivery

Start your project

Gift for mother Memorial In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Rhodium plated silver

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Alexandrite

Accent Stones

Other

Style

Accent stones Birthday Cross Heart Memorial Religios

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Heart approximately 25mm (1 in) wide; overall pendant with bail approximately 30mm (1.25 in). Bail fits chain up to 3mm. Chain: 24in rope chain, sterling silver.

How they made it distinctive

01
Cross sized and positioned first, with the heart built around it, to protect the stone spacing on the more detailed interior element
02
Three distinct gemstones used, each carrying its own personal meaning for the family
03
Straight, clean-edged cross requested specifically instead of the softer curved lines shown in the original reference
04
Bail accented with its own moissanite stones so the sparkle continues even where the chain attaches
05
Sized generously at about an inch to avoid feeling delicate, per the recipient's preference for substantial jewelry

How you'd make it yours

Stone selection: this piece uses alexandrite, aquamarine, and moissanite — a new commission could use different birthstones or a single stone type throughout

Metal: this piece is rhodium-plated sterling silver; the same design works in 14k or 18k white gold for added durability

Size: made to this piece's specific proportions; a new commission can be scaled larger or smaller

Chain: this piece ships on a rope chain; a new piece could use a cable, box, or curb chain depending on preference

Bail detailing: this piece has moissanite accents on the bail; a new commission could leave the bail plain or use a different stone

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

Design changes made

The cross position inside the heart was adjusted after the first sketch — raised from a lower placement to sit higher, then fine-tuned a second time to land between the two options shown. The client also requested straight, clean edges on the cross rather than the softer lines in the original reference image.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a symbol that carries real meaning rather than one that's simply decorative — each stone standing in for a specific person. It's especially right if you're looking to give a parent something to wear daily that keeps a loved one close, in a piece substantial enough to feel significant rather than delicate.

How it's made

Once the final design was approved, the piece was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a casting flask. The flask was placed in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten sterling silver was poured into the mold under pressure. After cooling, the raw casting was removed from the mold and prepared for cleaning and finishing. The heart outline and the cross were each set by hand with their own stones — alexandrite around the heart, and alternating aquamarine and moissanite along the cross — before the piece was polished to its final finish. Rhodium plating was applied last over the entire piece, giving the sterling silver a bright white surface that also helps resist tarnish. The bail was finished with its own line of moissanite to match the sparkle of the rest of the piece.

Key note

The cross was shaped and scaled first, and the heart outline was built around it afterward, so the stone spacing on the cross would not be compromised by the heart's final size.

Pricing guidance

A multi-stone pendant combining a heart motif, a separate cross element, and three different gemstone types sits toward the lower-to-mid range for pieces of this complexity. Most of the cost comes from the number of individually set stones and the labor of setting two distinct shapes within one pendant. Metal choice and overall size are the next biggest levers on price.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from sterling silver to 14k or 18k white gold
↑
Increasing the overall pendant size, which requires more stones to fill the larger heart and cross outlines
↑
Using natural diamonds in place of moissanite on the cross and bail
↑
Adding more stones to achieve a fuller pavé look around the heart
↑
Choosing a solid gold chain instead of a complimentary silver chain

Moves price down ↓

↓
Keeping the pendant at a smaller overall size
↓
Using fewer accent stones on the bail
↓
Reducing the stone count on the cross from alternating pairs to a single stone type
↓
Choosing a simpler chain style
↓
Using lab-created alexandrite alternatives if available

Questions people ask

Is alexandrite a durable stone for everyday jewelry?

Alexandrite rates around 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it quite durable and well-suited to daily wear. It's prized for its color-changing property — shifting between purple and green-blue depending on the light source. Natural alexandrite is extremely rare and expensive, so most alexandrite used in fine jewelry today, including lab-created versions, achieves the same color-change effect at a more accessible cost. It holds up well in a pendant setting where it isn't subject to the daily impact a ring would see.

What's the difference between moissanite and diamond?

Moissanite and diamond are different minerals, but they look similar to the naked eye and both rate extremely high on hardness — moissanite at 9.25 on the Mohs scale versus diamond's 10. Moissanite actually has more brilliance and fire than a diamond of comparable size because of how it refracts light. It's typically graded primarily by color rather than the full 4Cs used for diamonds, with the best moissanite falling in the D-E-F colorless range. It's a popular choice for clients who want maximum sparkle at a lower cost than diamond.

Does rhodium plating wear off sterling silver over time?

Yes, rhodium plating is a surface coating, not a permanent change to the metal underneath, so it will gradually wear with handling and exposure. For a pendant that isn't worn every single day, the plating typically holds up for a good while before it needs attention. When it does start to dull, re-plating is a straightforward service that restores the bright white finish and renewed tarnish resistance. Sterling silver underneath is still a solid, durable metal on its own, so the base piece isn't compromised even as plating wears.

What does a custom multi-stone heart pendant like this typically cost?

A pendant combining a heart outline, a separate cross element, and three stone types sits toward the lower-to-mid range for pieces of this complexity. The main cost driver is the number of individually set stones across two distinct design shapes, plus the labor of hand-setting each one. Metal choice makes a notable difference — sterling silver with rhodium plating costs meaningfully less than the same design in 14k white gold. Overall size also matters, since a larger heart and cross require more stones to fill them proportionally.

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

The full process typically runs several weeks from design approval to delivery. Design and sketch revisions usually take one to two weeks, including rounds of feedback on placement and proportions. Once the design is approved, production — casting, stone setting, and finishing — takes around four to five weeks. Sourcing a specific chain style or length can occasionally add extra time if that particular chain isn't in stock.

Can you combine a cross and a heart in one pendant design?

Yes, combining two symbolic shapes into a single pendant is a common custom request, and it requires careful planning of proportions so neither shape overwhelms the other. In a design like this, the smaller interior shape — the cross — is typically sized and positioned first, then the outer heart shape is built around it. This sequencing ensures the stone spacing on the detailed interior element isn't compromised by however large the outer shape ends up being. The result is a layered design where both symbols read clearly rather than competing for space.

Can the bail be made larger to fit a bigger clasp or thicker chain?

Yes, bail size is something that should be discussed upfront if you know you'll want to use a thicker chain or a larger lobster clasp chain down the line. A bail sized to accommodate roughly a 3mm chain comfortably fits most standard clasps, including larger ones. If you anticipate wanting to swap chains frequently or prefer heavier chain styles, it's worth mentioning during the design phase so the bail opening can be sized accordingly from the start.

Can you use multiple birthstones to represent different family members in one pendant?

Yes, using specific gemstones to represent different family members is a common way to personalize a piece — each stone or stone placement can be assigned a specific meaning, such as a birth month or a person being honored. In a design like this, different stones were used for different family members, including a birthstone tied to a specific birthday. This kind of layered symbolism works well in pendants with multiple distinct design elements, since each element can carry its own stone meaning.