Home Get Inspired Pendants Celtic Knot Pendant — Client-Designed Trinity Knot in Gold

A dimensional Celtic knot pendant in polished yellow gold, with interlocking woven loops forming a teardrop shape, hanging from a fine rope-link chain against a light marble background.

Celtic Knot Pendant — Client-Designed Trinity Knot in Gold

10k yellow gold

C. came to us with a Celtic knot she had designed herself — a shape that meant something personal to her — and wanted it recreated in solid metal rather than bought generic. She switched the metal to 10k yellow gold partway through so a separate jeweler could safely solder it onto an existing sterling silver necklace without damaging a plated finish. When it arrived, she wrote: "Stunning doesn't even BEGIN to cover how gorgeous this pendant is. I am SO happy! It's PERFECT!!"

'Would it be possible to make it without the bail? ... Otherwise, it's PERFECT!' — on seeing the first render

'Stunning doesn't even BEGIN to cover how gorgeous this pendant is. I am SO happy! It's PERFECT!!' — on delivery

Start your project

Daily wear For herself Make Your Mark Identity expression, Personal symbol / signet

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Abstract symbol Celtic Knot Symbolic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression, Personal symbol / signet

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 0.75in tall. Attached via open jump ring (client-intended for professional soldering); chain/necklace sourced separately by client.

How they made it distinctive

01
Design originated from the client's own hand-drawn Celtic knot sketch, not a stock template
02
Metal upgraded mid-project from gold-plated silver to solid 10k gold specifically so the piece could survive a later independent soldering
03
Standard bail omitted in favor of an open jump ring so the pendant could attach directly to an existing connected-knot necklace
04
Open, dimensional cut-out knotwork gives the piece depth and movement rather than a flat engraved surface
05
Kept under an inch tall per the client's request while still preserving the full detail of the knot pattern

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is solid 10k yellow gold — a new commission could use 14k, 18k, rose gold, or gold-plated sterling silver

Attachment point: this piece uses an open jump ring instead of a bail — a new piece could use a fixed soldered bail or a different connector

Size: this piece is about 0.75 inches tall — a new commission could be scaled larger if the knotwork detail allows it

Design source: this piece reproduces the client's own sketch — a new commission could start from your own drawing or a stock knotwork pattern

One of a kind: this exact pendant was cast from one client's personal design and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The standard fixed bail was replaced with an open jump ring so the piece could be attached directly to the client's existing necklace, and the metal was changed from gold-plated sterling silver to solid 10k yellow gold so a separate jeweler could solder the connection without damaging the finish.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who already has a design in their head — or on paper — and wants it made real rather than settling for something close. It's especially right if you have an existing piece of jewelry you want a new element to join, since the attachment details can be adapted to fit your plan.

How it's made

Once the render was approved, the design was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree within a flask. The flask was then invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold of the pendant. Molten 10k yellow gold was poured into that mold under pressure, and once cooled, the raw casting was broken out and separated from the tree for finishing. After casting, the pendant was cleaned up and polished to a bright finish across the open knotwork, with attention paid to smoothing the interior cut-out edges where the strands cross over one another. Because the piece needed to be soldered onto another necklace after delivery, it was finished in solid 10k gold rather than plated silver — a surface that can withstand a second soldering process without the finish lifting or discoloring. The jump ring at the top was left open rather than closed, per the client's request, so she could connect it herself before having it professionally soldered.

Key note

The metal was upgraded from gold-plated silver to solid 10k gold specifically so the piece could survive a second, independent soldering job without the plating being damaged.

Pricing guidance

A small dimensional pendant with open knotwork detail in solid gold sits toward the lower end of custom work of this complexity. Most of the cost comes from the labor of cleaning and polishing the interior cut-out edges of an openwork design, plus the gold content itself. Metal karat and size are the two levers that move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 10k to 14k or 18k gold, which increases both material cost and value
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond roughly an inch, which requires more metal and more finishing time
↑
Adding a soldered, permanently closed bail rather than an open jump ring
↑
Adding stones or enamel fill within the open sections of the knotwork
↑
Requesting a two-tone finish across different sections of the knot

Moves price down ↓

↓
Choosing gold-plated sterling silver instead of solid gold
↓
Reducing the pendant size toward the smaller end of what the knot's detail can support
↓
Simplifying the knotwork pattern to fewer crossing strands
↓
Using a standard closed bail instead of a custom open attachment point
↓
Sticking with sterling silver throughout rather than mixing metals

Questions people ask

Can you turn my own drawing or design into an actual piece of jewelry?

Yes. This pendant started as the client's own hand-drawn Celtic knot design, which the design team translated into a 3D model and then cast in metal. The process includes a render for approval before anything is cast, so you can request adjustments to proportion or detail before it's made. Personal or original designs like this are common, and the final piece follows your sketch rather than a generic template.

What's the difference between gold-plated silver and solid 10k gold for a pendant like this?

Gold-plated sterling silver has a thin layer of gold over a silver base, so it's lighter in color saturation and the plating can wear thin over time, especially if the piece undergoes any later soldering or repair work. Solid 10k gold is gold throughout, so it holds up better under a second soldering process and won't show bare metal if the surface is later polished or adjusted. For a piece meant to be modified or attached to another piece of jewelry down the line, solid gold is the more durable choice.

Can a pendant be made without a bail if I'm attaching it to an existing necklace?

Yes, though there needs to be some kind of connection point — it can't be left with nothing at all. A common solution is an open jump ring in place of a fixed bail, which lets you connect the pendant to an existing chain yourself. An open jump ring isn't permanently secure on its own, so if durability matters, plan to have it professionally soldered closed once it's attached.

How durable is an open, cut-out knotwork design for daily wear?

Open, dimensional knotwork is more delicate than a solid pendant because the metal is thinner at the points where strands cross and separate. Casting it in a sturdier metal rather than a soft plated finish helps it hold up to daily wear and occasional handling. Pieces under an inch with fine cut-out detail are generally considered better suited to careful daily wear than rough or active use.

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

A small dimensional pendant in solid gold with open knotwork detail falls toward the lower end of custom pricing for pieces of this complexity. The main cost drivers are the gold content and the hand-finishing needed to clean and polish the interior edges of an open design. Simpler, smaller, or plated versions bring the cost down, while larger sizes or higher karat gold push it up.

How long does it take to make a custom pendant from a personal design?

For a piece like this, the process typically runs about four to six weeks from approval to delivery. The 3D design and render usually take five to seven days, and once approved, production — wax printing, casting, cleaning, and finishing — takes another three to four weeks. You'll typically see a render for approval and sometimes a resin preview before the final metal piece is made.

Can I mix metals, like a gold pendant on a silver chain?

Yes, mixing metals is a common and workable choice, especially when a client already owns a chain or necklace in one metal and wants a pendant made in another. The main consideration is how the two pieces will be connected — a jump ring or soldering may be needed to join a gold pendant to a silver chain securely. The visual contrast between gold and silver is also a deliberate style choice many clients make intentionally.

Will the color of yellow gold in a render match the finished piece exactly?

Not precisely — renders are a close approximation, but the real luster and tone of yellow gold can vary slightly from how it appears on screen. Lighting, monitor calibration, and the reflective quality of polished metal all affect how a render looks compared to the physical piece. Most clients find the finished piece reads warmer and shinier in person than in the digital render.