Home Get Inspired Pendants Custom Monogram Pendant — Two Enamel Initials in Gold

A square 10k yellow gold pendant with a white enamel background, featuring two block letter T's — one in teal enamel and one in navy enamel — with a gold cursive signature line beneath, framed by a raised gold border, on a gold cable chain.

Custom Monogram Pendant — Two Enamel Initials in Gold

$$$

10k yellow gold, white enamel, teal enamel, navy enamel

A client wanted a pendant representing him and a family member, built around two matching letterforms in different colors with a name line beneath. He worked closely with the design team over several months to get the raised gold outlines, the enamel colors, and the exact script font right before approving the final piece. When it was done, he asked for a matching version in black-finished silver as well.

'The front is perfect! Now for the back' — on design approval

'Perfect!!! I'm ready for the next step.' — on design approval

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Anniversary Daily wear Gift for partner For Our Family Children's names / initials

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Enamel Engraved Family Letter initial Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

For Our Family Children's names / initials

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1.5in x 1in. Engraved on back, two lines.

How they made it distinctive

01
Two matching letterforms rendered in different enamel colors to represent two family members individually while sharing one design
02
Raised gold borders used specifically because fine engraved lines could not survive casting as raised elements
03
Back engraving placed centered at the bottom per the client's specific layout request
04
Custom script font selected by the client after reviewing multiple font options
05
Later recreated in black rhodium-plated silver as a second, bolder version of the same design

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is 10k yellow gold; the same design works in 14k gold, white gold, or silver with black rhodium plating

Enamel colors: this piece uses teal and navy; a new commission could use any two colors that suit the wearer

Letterforms: this piece uses two matching letter shapes; a new piece could use different initials or a single letter

Engraving: the back can carry a different date, number, or short phrase on a new piece

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed 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 lettering and engraved text were changed from a raised design to an engraved one after the team explained that fine lines could not survive the casting process; the client also requested a different script font partway through and had a name on the design shortened to initials.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a wearable symbol of a specific relationship, built around initials rather than a generic monogram. It's especially right for someone who has a clear picture of the layout, colors, and details they want and is willing to work through a few rounds of revision to get it exactly right.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, a wax model was 3D-printed from the final CAD file and shared with the client as a resin preview before any metal was committed. The model was then invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold. Molten 10k yellow gold was cast into the mold under pressure, then the raw pendant was cooled, extracted, cleaned, and polished. The front was finished first: the raised border and letterforms were polished to a bright gold finish, and the recessed background and letter fields were filled with enamel in the two confirmed colors before a final low-heat cure. The back was polished to a mirror finish and engraved last, since engraving is done only after all shaping and polishing work is complete to avoid disturbing the fine lines.

Key note

The small engraved text on the back had to be engraved rather than cast raised, because lines that thin would not have survived the investment-casting process intact.

Pricing guidance

A personalized enamel pendant with two-letter monogram work and custom engraving sits in the mid range for pendants of this complexity. Most of the added cost comes from the enamel application and the hand-finishing required to get crisp raised borders around each letter. Metal choice is the next biggest factor in where the final price lands.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from gold-plated silver to solid 10k or 14k gold
↑
Adding a third or fourth enamel color to the design
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond 1.5 x 1 inch
↑
Adding gemstone accents around the border
↑
Requesting a heavier chain or a higher-karat chain to match

Moves price down ↓

↓
Choosing gold-plated sterling silver instead of solid gold
↓
Reducing to a single enamel color instead of two
↓
Simplifying the design to one letter instead of two
↓
Omitting the back engraving
↓
Choosing a lighter-gauge chain

Questions people ask

How durable is enamel on a gold pendant?

Enamel is a glass-like material fused to the metal at high heat, and it holds up well under normal daily wear when it is properly cured and not the pendant's primary contact surface. It can chip if struck hard against a hard object, similar to a ceramic coating, but everyday wear like showering or light bumps typically will not damage it. Most enamel pendants last many years without needing repair. If a chip does occur, the enamel can usually be professionally refilled in that section.

Can you do black rhodium plating on a pendant like this?

Yes, black rhodium plating can be applied over white gold or sterling silver to give a piece a deep matte-black metallic look. It's a surface plating rather than a solid black metal, so it will show gradual wear on high-contact areas over time and can be re-plated when needed. This finish is commonly requested as a bolder alternative version of a design originally made in yellow gold.

What does a custom enamel monogram pendant typically cost?

A personalized pendant with a two-letter enamel monogram and back engraving typically falls in the mid range for custom pendant work. The main cost drivers are the enamel application process and the hand-finishing needed for crisp raised metal borders around the lettering. Metal choice — gold-plated silver versus solid gold — is usually the single biggest factor in the final price.

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

The design phase for a piece like this typically takes about one to a few weeks depending on how many rounds of revisions are needed, since fonts, colors, and layout details often go back and forth before approval. Once the design is approved, production takes roughly three to four weeks, covering wax modeling, casting, enamel work, and engraving. Rounds of design feedback can extend the front end of the timeline beyond a standard schedule.

Can engraved text be made raised instead of engraved?

It depends on how small and thin the lettering is. Fine lines that are very small cannot be cast as raised metal because they are too delicate to survive the investment-casting process and would break or not fill correctly. Larger, bolder letterforms can be cast raised, which is why bigger design elements on a piece can be raised while small text is engraved instead.

What's the difference between engraved text and raised text on jewelry?

Raised text is cast as part of the piece so the letters sit above the surrounding metal surface, which works well for bold, larger lettering. Engraved text is cut into the surface after casting using a laser or hand tool, and it's the better option for fine, small, or intricate lettering that wouldn't hold up if cast raised. Both techniques can appear on the same piece depending on the size of each element.

Can you match an existing gold pendant in a different metal finish?

Yes, an existing design can be recreated in a different metal or finish, such as black rhodium-plated silver instead of yellow gold, while keeping the same layout, lettering, and proportions. This is a common request when someone wants a bolder or more understated version of a piece they already own. The core design elements typically transfer over with only the metal and finish changing.

Do you need a chain with a pendant, or is one included?

Pendants are typically paired with a chain sourced separately from the pendant itself, and the chain style, width, and length can be chosen to suit the piece and the wearer's preference. A fine cable chain is a common choice for a pendant of this size and weight. Chain options are usually discussed and finalized after the pendant design itself is approved.