Home Get Inspired Pendants Custom Reefer Truck Pendant in 10K Yellow Gold

A solid 10k yellow gold pendant in the shape of a box/reefer truck, polished finish, hanging from a cable chain against a white marble background.

Custom Reefer Truck Pendant in 10K Yellow Gold

10k yellow gold

B. wanted a pendant for her fiancé that reflected his work driving a delivery truck, without the bulk of a large piece. The first render used a reference photo, but after finally getting a clear picture of his actual truck, she asked for the decorative door line removed so the shape stood on its own. When it arrived she said: 'It is beautiful... he likes it.'

'Perfect' — on seeing the revised sketch after requesting changes

'Love it' — on seeing the final render

'It is beautiful... he likes it.' — on delivery

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Daily wear Gift for partner A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch; weight 5.4 grams; chain width 2.75–3mm (chain sourced separately, not included).

How they made it distinctive

01
Solid-background silhouette chosen specifically so the truck shape reads cleanly without added cut-out work
02
Cab door detailing removed mid-design once a clearer reference photo of the actual truck became available
03
10k gold selected over gold-plated silver specifically for daily-wear durability
04
Sized to just over an inch and 5.4 grams, kept deliberately modest so it would not feel bulky on a partner who doesn't want a large pendant
05
Bail sized to the client's existing chain width rather than being paired with a new chain

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is 10k yellow gold; a new commission could use 14k or 18k yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold

Background: this piece uses a solid background; a new piece could use a cut-out silhouette for a lighter, more open look

Size: this piece is about 1 inch; a new commission could be made larger or smaller

Engraving: the back of a new pendant could carry a date, initials, or short phrase

Subject: the vehicle-silhouette approach used here could be adapted to any vehicle, tool, or object with personal meaning

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed around one client's reference photo and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The client requested the cab door detailing be removed and the design simplified after she obtained a clearer reference photo of the actual truck partway through the design phase — the final pendant is a clean solid silhouette rather than the more detailed first render.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone looking to honor what their partner does for a living in a way that feels personal rather than generic. It's especially right if you want something small enough for daily wear but specific enough that it could only be about one truck, one job, one person.

How it's made

Once the final design was approved, the pendant was 3D printed in wax and attached to a tree before being invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold. Molten 10k yellow gold was then cast into the mold under pressure, producing the raw pendant, which was cooled and removed from its mold for finishing. After casting, the pendant was cleaned and polished to bring out a smooth, solid-faced finish across the truck's cab and box body, with the bail polished to match. Because the design uses a solid background rather than a cut-out silhouette, finishing focused on sharpening the edges between the truck's panel lines so the shape reads clearly without added engraving or texture.

Key note

The truck's panel lines are shallow surface relief rather than cut-outs, which is what keeps the solid-background pendant sturdy enough for daily wear.

Pricing guidance

A small solid-silhouette pendant like this sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. Most of the cost comes from the 3D modeling needed to translate a reference photo into a clean metal silhouette, plus the metal weight itself. Metal choice is the biggest lever on price from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 10k to 14k or 18k gold for a richer color and higher gold content
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond roughly 1 inch, which adds metal weight and modeling time
↑
Adding a cut-out background instead of a solid one, which requires more detailed modeling and finishing
↑
Adding engraving on the back of the pendant
↑
Including a matching chain sourced and sized specifically for the piece

Moves price down ↓

↓
Choosing gold-plated sterling silver instead of solid 10k or 14k gold
↓
Reducing the design to a simpler outline with fewer panel-line details
↓
Keeping the pendant at a smaller size than 1 inch
↓
Skipping a custom chain and using an existing chain the client already owns

Questions people ask

Can you make a pendant shaped like a specific vehicle from a photo?

Yes. This pendant was designed from a reference photo of a real delivery truck and then refined into a 3D model that captures its shape in profile. The design team can work from photos, sketches, or a written description, and will share a render for approval before anything is cast. Minor adjustments, like removing decorative lines or simplifying certain features, can be made at the render stage before production begins.

Is 10k gold durable enough for daily wear?

Yes, 10k gold is actually one of the more durable gold options because it has a higher ratio of alloy metals mixed in, which makes it harder and more scratch-resistant than 14k or 18k gold. It is a common choice for pieces meant to be worn every day, like this pendant. The tradeoff is a slightly less rich yellow color compared to higher-karat gold, though the difference is subtle.

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

Solid 10k gold is gold all the way through, so it will not wear off, tarnish, or require re-plating over time. Gold-plated sterling silver has a thin layer of gold over a silver base, which is more affordable upfront but will gradually wear thin with daily contact, especially at edges and high-touch areas. For a piece meant to be worn constantly, solid gold holds up better long-term even though the initial cost is higher.

How much does a custom silhouette pendant like this typically cost?

A small solid pendant like this, around an inch in size, sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. The main cost driver is the 3D design work required to turn a reference image into an accurate metal silhouette, plus the weight and karat of metal chosen. Moving from gold-plated silver to solid 10k, 14k, or 18k gold is typically the biggest price difference for a piece like this.

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

From approved design to finished piece, a pendant like this typically takes a few weeks. The process starts with a 3D render for approval, then moves to a wax 3D print, investment casting in metal, and finishing. If design changes are requested after the first render, as happened with this piece, that adds some time before production starts.

Does a pendant like this come with a chain?

Not necessarily. This pendant was made without a chain, and the bail was sized to fit a chain the client already owned, in the 2.75 to 3mm width range. It is worth confirming your chain's width before ordering so the bail fits properly. A chain can also be sourced separately if you do not already have one you want to use.

Can a pendant like this be repaired if the bail or ring fractures?

Minor fractures in a pendant's bail or jump ring can often be repaired by re-soldering the affected area, which restores the connection point without needing to remake the whole piece. The repair process and cost depend on where the fracture is and how the piece was originally constructed. It's best to have the piece inspected in person or via photos to determine the right repair approach.

Can you remove certain design details after seeing the first render?

Yes, this is a normal part of the design process. In this case, the client asked for decorative door lines to be removed and the design simplified after she obtained a clearer photo of the actual subject partway through the process. Adjustments like this are typically made before a final render is approved and production begins.