Home Get Inspired Pendants Dimensional Lighthouse Pendant in Yellow Gold & Enamel

A dimensional lighthouse pendant in yellow gold with a black rhodium-plated lantern room and base, white enamel body, and a red enamel center band, hanging from a yellow gold chain.

Dimensional Lighthouse Pendant in Yellow Gold & Enamel

14k yellow gold plated sterling silver, black rhodium plating, white enamel, red enamel

A client wanted a specific lighthouse turned into a small, wearable pendant — a three-dimensional miniature rather than a flat charm. The color sequence mattered enough that he pushed back twice on early renders until the piece matched the real lighthouse's black-white-red-white-black bands exactly. When it arrived, he wrote simply: 'Awesome thank you so much!'

'LOOKS AMAZING, I love it' — on design approval

'Awesome thank you so much!' — on delivery

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For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 14k

Secondary Metal

Rhodium plated silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

3D Building landmark Enamel Nautical

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 20mm (nickel-sized); bail fits chain up to 3mm.

How they made it distinctive

01
Fully three-dimensional lighthouse form chosen over a flat charm to capture real architectural depth at small scale
02
Black-white-red-white-black color sequence revised twice to match the real lighthouse's daymark pattern exactly
03
Black rhodium plating used in place of a second white metal to achieve crisp dark bands at a scale too fine for cast metal color contrast alone
04
Door and window details removed and replaced with plain white enamel at the client's request for a cleaner two-tone look
05
Top loop and base kept in yellow gold to frame the black-and-white tower with warm metal accents

How you'd make it yours

Structure: this piece depicts a specific lighthouse; a new commission could depict a different landmark, building, or structure

Color sequence: this piece uses black-white-red-white-black enamel and plating bands; a new piece could use a different color arrangement or a single enamel tone

Metal: this piece is 14k gold plated sterling silver; the same design language works in solid 10k or 14k gold for a heavier, more durable piece

Size: made at nickel size for this client; a new commission can be sized larger or smaller

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

Design changes made

The first render used a yellow-gold-and-red enamel palette, but the client asked for the piece to match the original lighthouse's black-and-white coloring instead. The design was revised to use black rhodium plating for the dark bands and white enamel in place of the engraved door-and-window detail, while keeping the top loop and base in yellow gold.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone with a specific place that matters to them — a lighthouse, a landmark, a building — who wants it as a small, wearable object rather than a photograph or souvenir. It especially suits someone who notices detail and will keep pushing until the color and proportions genuinely match what they have in mind.

How it's made

The design began as a 3D model built from a reference photo and the client's description, refined over several rounds until the color layout was approved. Once finalized, the model was 3D printed in wax, attached to a tree, and invested in plaster. The flask was fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten sterling silver was cast into it under pressure to form the raw pendant. After casting, the piece was cleaned and polished before finishing began. The lantern gallery and base were plated in black rhodium, while the tower and bail retained a yellow gold plating for contrast. Red and white enamel were then hand-applied in bands around the tower to recreate the lighthouse's daymark pattern, with thin gold trim left exposed between colors.

Key note

The black and white sections are achieved with black rhodium plating and enamel rather than two different metal colors, since the fine architectural detail was too small to render accurately in a separate white metal.

Pricing guidance

A small dimensional pendant with multi-color enamel and two-tone plating sits in the lower-to-mid range for custom work of this complexity. Most of the cost comes from the hand labor of applying multiple enamel colors and a secondary plating step, rather than from the metal itself. Scaling up to a larger production run changes the cost structure significantly, since tooling can replace per-piece wax printing.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Adding more enamel colors or more color transitions around the piece
↑
Upgrading from gold-plated silver to solid 10k or 14k gold
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond a nickel-sized footprint
↑
Adding gemstone accents instead of enamel fill
↑
Commissioning as a single piece rather than a production run

Moves price down ↓

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Reducing to a single enamel color or removing enamel entirely
↓
Simplifying the plating to one metal tone instead of two
↓
Ordering in bulk using a silicone mold rather than individual wax prints
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Omitting chain and packaging from the order
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Choosing a flatter, less dimensional design

Questions people ask

What is enamel on jewelry made of and does it last?

Enamel is colored glass or resin-like material fused or hand-applied into recessed or bordered areas of a metal piece. On a small pendant like this, it is applied by hand in thin bands and is durable for everyday wear, though like any coating it can show wear over years of friction or impact. It should not be exposed to harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning, which can dull or chip the finish. Gentle cleaning with a soft cloth is usually enough to keep it looking bright.

What does gold plating mean and how long does it last?

Gold plating means a thin layer of gold is applied over a base metal, in this case sterling silver, to give the look of solid gold at a lower cost. It is not permanent — plating gradually wears thin with daily wear, particularly at points of friction like a bail or clasp. How long it lasts depends on wear frequency, but many plated pieces hold up well for a year or more before needing re-plating. Re-plating is a standard jewelry service and not difficult to have done.

Can you make a 3D sculptural pendant from a photo of a building or landmark?

Yes, a photo reference can be turned into a three-dimensional pendant by building a 3D model that captures the structure's proportions and key visual details. The process typically starts with a render for approval, which can be revised for color, detail, and proportion before anything is cast. Fine architectural details, like small windows or doors, may need to be simplified at jewelry scale, and enamel or plating is often used to recreate color bands instead of applying color pigment directly to metal. This approach works well for lighthouses, buildings, and other recognizable structures with a clear silhouette.

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

A nickel-sized dimensional pendant with multi-color enamel and two-tone plating falls in the lower-to-mid price range for custom jewelry of this complexity. The main cost driver is the labor of hand-applying multiple enamel colors and a secondary plating step, not the base metal weight. Simpler single-color pieces cost less, while more colors, larger sizes, or gemstone accents push the price higher.

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

The full process usually takes several weeks from design approval to delivery. Design typically takes about a week, including time for the client to review and request changes to the render. Once the design is approved and production begins, casting, plating, and hand-applied enamel work generally take four to five weeks before the piece ships.

Can black rhodium plating be used instead of white gold for a two-tone look?

Yes, black rhodium plating is a common way to achieve a dark, near-black finish on silver or gold-plated silver without using a separate black metal. It is applied as a final plating step after all polishing is complete, since the finish is delicate and can be damaged by further mechanical work. It reads as a deep charcoal-black rather than true white, so it is best suited to designs intentionally seeking contrast rather than a bright white-metal look. Over time it can wear at high-contact points and can be re-plated when needed.

Can a small pendant like this be ordered in bulk for a group or event?

Yes, once a design exists, it can often be reproduced in larger quantities using a mold-based production method instead of individually 3D-printed wax models, which lowers the per-piece cost at higher volumes. This approach works best when the design does not need to change between pieces. Lead times for bulk orders are typically longer than for a single piece, since the mold has to be made first and the pieces are often produced at an outside production facility. Per-piece pricing typically decreases as quantity increases, but the amount of hand-finishing involved — like enamel application — limits how low the cost can go.

Does the chain come with the pendant or is it sold separately?

This depends on what is agreed for a given order — some clients already own a chain they want to use, in which case only the pendant is made, while others request a chain be included. The pendant bail is sized to accommodate chains up to a specific width, so it is worth confirming chain width compatibility before ordering. A standard cable chain is a common pairing for a pendant of this size and style. If ordering in bulk, chains are often left out to reduce per-unit cost.