Home Get Inspired Pendants Double Mars Symbol Pendant in Black Rhodium with Diamonds

A black rhodium-plated pendant with two overlapping circular Mars symbols, each rimmed with pave-set diamonds, and two solid wide-based arrows pointing diagonally upward, hanging from a matching dark chain.

Double Mars Symbol Pendant in Black Rhodium with Diamonds

$$$

14k white gold, black rhodium plating, lab diamonds

A client wanted a second symbolic pendant to add to a chain he already wore, alongside an existing piece with personal meaning. He worked closely through several rounds of design — adjusting the direction of the arrows, choosing an all-diamond look over a mixed gemstone one, and fine-tuning the proportions until it matched a reference image he found partway through. He called the final result something that made him happy, and timed the production to finish around his birthday.

'This makes me happy.' — on seeing an updated render with all-diamond stones and closed arrow tips

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

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

White gold 14k

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Lab diamond

Accent Stones

Diamonds

Style

Abstract symbol Black Rhodium Cut out geometric Symbolic

Design Complexity

Complex

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression, Personal symbol / signet

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch (25.4mm) in height. Bail sized to fit a 3mm-wide adjustable chain. 72 hand-set round diamonds across both rings. Arrow length approximately 6-8mm.

How they made it distinctive

01
Two interlocking ring-and-arrow symbols layered so the arrows sit parallel — a specific orientation requested and refined by the client
02
Arrow bases widened for structural stability, since the cut-out design leaves this area more exposed
03
Arrow tips rounded for comfort against skin, based on a reference image the client supplied mid-process
04
Bail custom-sized to fit an existing adjustable chain's larger clasp loop, so the piece could be added to jewelry the client already wears
05
All 72 stones set as diamonds rather than a mixed diamond-and-emerald plan, after the client compared both options side by side

How you'd make it yours

Stone type: this piece uses lab diamonds; a new commission could use moissanite for a similar look at lower cost, or natural diamonds for a different grade

Metal: this piece is black rhodium-plated 14k white gold; the same cut-out design works in sterling silver with black rhodium, or without plating for a brighter tone

Orientation: the arrow direction and parallel placement were specific to this client's preference; a new piece can be mirrored or angled differently

Size: this piece is sized at approximately 1 inch; a new commission can be scaled up or down

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

Design changes made

The arrow direction was changed twice as the client refined exactly how he wanted the piece to sit when worn, and the gemstone plan shifted from a mixed diamond-and-emerald design to all diamonds after seeing both options side by side. The arrow bases were also widened for stability and the tips rounded for comfort, based on a reference image the client supplied.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a symbolic pendant with a very specific, personal orientation and meaning — not a piece pulled off a shelf. It's especially right if you're adding to jewelry you already wear and want a new piece designed to coordinate with it rather than compete with it.

How it's made

Once the final design was approved, the piece was 3D printed in wax using the approved digital model, then attached to a wax tree and invested in a flask. The flask was fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten 14k white gold was cast into the mold under pressure. The initial wax print of one arrow broke during printing and was reprinted before casting proceeded. After casting, the piece was cleaned, polished, and prepared for stone setting. All 72 round diamonds were hand-set along the outlined paths of both interlocking rings. Black rhodium plating was applied last, over the polished white gold, giving the finished piece its dark gunmetal-grey tone rather than a true black.

Key note

The black rhodium finish reads closer to gunmetal grey than true black once applied, because the plating color shifts slightly from how it appears in a digital render.

Pricing guidance

A cut-out symbolic pendant of this complexity, hand-set with dozens of small diamonds across two interlocking elements, sits toward the higher end for pendant-category custom work. Most of the cost comes from the labor of individually setting a high stone count across a dimensional cut-out shape, rather than the metal itself. Stone choice and metal karat are what move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Choosing natural diamonds instead of lab-created diamonds for the 72 stones
↑
Upgrading from 14k to 18k white gold
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond 1 inch, which requires larger stones or more of them
↑
Adding gemstone color accents (such as emerald) alongside diamonds, which complicates sourcing and setting

Moves price down ↓

↓
Switching from diamonds to moissanite across the piece
↓
Using sterling silver instead of 14k white gold as the base metal
↓
Reducing the stone count by leaving portions of the rings bare
↓
Simplifying to a single ring-and-arrow element instead of two interlocking ones

Questions people ask

Can you make a pendant with two overlapping symbols like this?

Yes, interlocking or overlapping symbolic elements like this double ring-and-arrow design are achievable in cut-out pendant form. The key production consideration is how the two elements connect structurally, since a cut-out design has less surrounding metal for support. In this piece, the connection point between the two rings and the arrow bases were reinforced slightly for durability. The final orientation and proportions are typically refined over a few rounds of 3D render review before casting.

What's the difference between lab diamonds and moissanite for a pave-set pendant?

Lab-created diamonds and moissanite are both durable, affordable alternatives to natural diamonds, but they are chemically different stones. Lab diamonds have the same hardness and composition as natural diamonds, just grown in a controlled environment rather than mined. Moissanite is a different mineral entirely, with slightly more fire and sparkle than diamond but a lower cost. For a piece with 70+ small stones, moissanite is typically the lower-cost option, with lab diamonds next, and natural diamonds the most expensive.

How durable is black rhodium plating on a pendant worn daily?

Black rhodium is a plating applied over the base metal, not a solid-through material, so it will gradually wear with regular contact — most noticeably where the pendant rubs against skin or clothing. Most wearers find it holds a good finish for one to two years before needing re-plating. The color often reads more like a dark gunmetal grey than a true flat black once applied, which is worth knowing before committing to the finish. Re-plating is a standard jewelry service when the time comes.

What does a custom diamond-set pendant like this typically cost?

A cut-out pendant with 70+ hand-set stones across two dimensional elements falls toward the higher end of custom pendant pricing, mainly because of the setting labor involved. Material choice has a large effect on the total: moissanite is the most affordable stone option, lab diamonds sit above that, and natural diamonds are the most expensive for the same stone count. Metal choice between sterling silver and white gold also shifts the price meaningfully.

How long does it take to make a custom pendant with this many set stones?

From design approval to completion, a piece with 72 hand-set stones across a cut-out design typically takes about four to five weeks. This covers wax printing, casting, cleanup, hand-setting each stone individually, and the final black rhodium plating. The stone-setting step takes longer than on a simpler piece because each of the 72 stones has to be placed and secured by hand along the curved outline of both rings.

Can the bail be sized to fit a specific chain I already own?

Yes, the bail (the loop the chain passes through) can be custom-sized to fit an existing chain, including adjustable chains with a larger clasp loop. It's worth sending a photo of the chain next to a ruler or coin so the exact width can be measured before the bail is finalized in the design. This is typically confirmed during the design phase, before the piece moves to production, to avoid needing adjustments later.

Can sharp design elements like arrow points be made safer to wear?

Yes, sharp points on a design like arrow tips can be softened during the finishing process. A freshly cast or 3D-printed model often looks sharper than the final piece, because polishing and hand-finishing round off edges that would otherwise catch on skin or clothing. It's common for a client to request this kind of adjustment after seeing an early rough model, and it doesn't typically require a new render to confirm.

Can a pendant like this be worn alongside another pendant on the same chain?

Yes, a pendant like this can be designed to share a chain with an existing piece, as long as the bail is sized appropriately and the overall weight and balance are considered. Designers sometimes adjust where the jump ring and bail sit to help the pendant hang in the correct orientation when combined with another piece. This is worth mentioning upfront so the bail and hanging angle are planned correctly from the start.