Home Get Inspired Pendants Cane Corso Face Pendant in 14k Yellow Gold

A 14k yellow gold pendant shaped like a Cane Corso dog's face with dimensional carved details, polished to a high shine, hanging from a thick rope chain.

Cane Corso Face Pendant in 14k Yellow Gold

14k yellow gold

E. wanted his dog's face made permanent — not as an engraving, but as a sculpted likeness in gold. He worked through several rounds of the design with the team: choosing the reference photo, deciding against a background, and specifying the bail width so the piece would fit the chain he already owned. When production suggested a matte finish to bring out the dog's features, he asked to keep the original polished look instead.

'Thats great thank you so much!' — on seeing the production update

'I got it! Was able to get a hold of them. Went and picked it up' — on delivery

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For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 14k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Animals Engraved Portrait

Design Complexity

Complex

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch face height; bail width 5mm. Hollow-back construction for weight reduction.

How they made it distinctive

01
Sculpted in dimensional relief rather than flat engraving, capturing the individual set of the dog's eyes and ear fold
02
Background removed and back hollowed after the client compared both render options, resulting in an open, lighter design
03
Bail widened to 5mm specifically to fit the client's own existing rope chain
04
Finished in high polish rather than the matte option production suggested, at the client's request
05
Extends past the face to include part of the chest, giving the portrait more presence than a face-only design

How you'd make it yours

Background: this piece has an open, no-background design — a new commission could add a cut-out or solid background behind the face

Finish: this piece is high-polish — a matte finish reads certain fur textures more clearly and works well on a similar design

Metal: this piece is 14k yellow gold — the same sculpted approach works in 18k gold or white gold

Stone accents: this piece has no gemstones — small stone eyes or accents could be added to a new commission

One of a kind: this exact pendant was modeled from one client's dog and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original sculpt of a different pet

Design changes made

The background behind the dog's face was dropped in favor of an open, hollowed-back design after the client compared both options in render form. The bail was also enlarged to 5mm partway through production to fit the client's existing chain.

Who this is for

This is for someone who wants their pet's actual likeness on them, not a generic dog charm. It's especially right if you have a clear, well-lit photo to work from and want the piece to carry real sculptural presence rather than sit flat against the chest.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the pendant was 3D printed in resin — the first physical version of the piece, shared with the client as a preview before any metal was committed. That model was invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the resin, leaving a hollow mold. Molten 14k yellow gold was then cast into the mold under pressure and the raw piece was extracted and cleaned. Because the solid version came out heavier than expected, the back of the pendant was hollowed out to reduce weight while preserving the dimensional detail on the front. The face was then hand-finished and polished to a high shine to bring out the carved texture in the fur and features, and the bail was reworked and enlarged to 5mm so it would pass easily through the client's existing rope chain.

Key note

The pendant was cast solid first, then hollowed from the back afterward — the weight problem only became apparent once the piece existed in metal, not at the design stage.

Pricing guidance

A dimensional pet-portrait pendant like this sits in the mid range for custom sculptural work. Most of the cost comes from the hand-modeling and finishing needed to capture a specific animal's features in relief, rather than from the metal itself. Weight is also a major factor for solid dimensional pieces at this scale.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Choosing 18k gold instead of 14k for the same solid design
↑
Keeping the solid (non-hollowed) version rather than hollowing the back
↑
Adding a cut-out or textured background behind the face
↑
Including gemstone eyes or other stone accents
↑
Extending the design further down to include more of the chest or body

Moves price down ↓

↓
Hollowing the back to reduce metal weight, as done on this piece
↓
Reducing the pendant to a smaller overall size
↓
Choosing sterling silver or gold-plated silver instead of solid gold
↓
Simplifying the level of fur/texture detail
↓
Limiting the design to the face only rather than face and chest

Questions people ask

Can you turn a photo of my dog into a gold pendant?

Yes, this is a common request and the process starts with a clear reference photo of the pet's face. The design team sculpts the likeness in dimensional relief rather than a flat engraving, working through a sketch, a 3D model, and a rendered preview before anything is cast. You'll get to review and adjust the design at each stage, including details like background, size, and finish. The more detailed and well-lit the reference photo, the more accurately the features can be captured.

Why would you hollow out the back of a gold pendant?

Solid dimensional pendants can end up surprisingly heavy once cast in gold, especially at larger sizes like an inch across. Hollowing the back removes excess metal from areas that don't affect the visible design, making the piece lighter and more comfortable to wear on a daily basis. It also reduces the amount of gold needed, which affects cost. The front detail and structural integrity are not affected by hollowing.

What's the difference between a matte and polished finish on a pendant like this?

A matte finish diffuses light across the surface, which can make fine carved texture like fur or feathers read more clearly from a distance. A high-polish finish reflects light directly, giving a brighter, shinier look but sometimes softening how texture appears under certain lighting. Both are valid choices and largely come down to personal preference. On dimensional pieces, some clients prefer polish because it matches how their other jewelry looks.

How much does a custom pet portrait pendant like this cost?

Pricing for a dimensional pet pendant sits in the mid range for custom sculptural jewelry, largely driven by the hand-modeling time and the weight of metal used. A hollowed-back design costs less than a fully solid version of the same size because it uses less gold. Choosing 14k over 18k gold, and keeping the design to just the face rather than face and chest, also keep the cost lower. Get a specific quote based on your reference photo and desired size and metal.

How long does it take to make a custom dog pendant?

The full process typically takes around five to six weeks from approval to shipping. The first week or so covers the sketch, 3D model, and render for your approval. Once approved, casting and hand-finishing typically take three to four weeks, including any resin preview and finishing adjustments like polishing or bail sizing. Rush timelines may be available depending on current production schedules.

Can the pendant be made to fit a specific chain I already own?

Yes, if you provide the chain's width and a photo next to a ruler or coin for scale, the bail (the loop the chain passes through) can be sized to fit it properly. This was done on this piece, where the bail was enlarged to 5mm to fit the client's existing rope chain. It's worth confirming this measurement before production begins, since the bail is built into the casting and is harder to adjust afterward. If you don't have a chain yet, one can typically be sourced separately.

Is gold pet jewelry durable enough for everyday wear?

14k and 18k gold are both durable enough for daily wear as a pendant, since pendants don't experience the same impact and abrasion that rings do. The main things to watch for are the bail and chain connection, since that's where the most repeated stress occurs. A high-polish finish will show fine scratches over time more than a matte finish, though both remain wearable and can be re-polished if needed. Dimensional pieces with raised detail are generally sturdy as long as the casting was hollowed appropriately for weight.

Can I add gemstones to a dimensional pet pendant like this?

Yes, gemstone accents such as eyes or small decorative details can be incorporated into a dimensional design, though they add to both the cost and the design complexity. On this piece, the client considered gemstone eyes early on but ultimately decided to keep the design without any stones. Adding stones later in the process, after a design is already finalized, is more difficult than specifying them upfront.