Home Get Inspired Pendants Embossed Fern Crest Pendant in 10k Yellow Gold

An oval 10k yellow gold pendant with a raised fern or plant frond design on a sandblasted background within a polished bezel border, hanging from a gold chain.

Embossed Fern Crest Pendant in 10k Yellow Gold

10k yellow gold

A. came to us with a specific image that held personal meaning and a clear vision: a dimensional emblem on a solid gold background, sized to a quarter, in 10k gold. He asked for the back to carry a meaningful phrase and ultimately chose 'Trust the Process' over a longer quote once he learned the full text wouldn't fit. He confirmed sandblasting the background for contrast and made sure the bail was sized to fit a rope chain he already owned.

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Daily wear For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Engraved Logo Low-profile Symbolic Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch diameter (quarter-sized). Bail fits up to 3.8mm chain.

How they made it distinctive

01
Design sourced directly from a client-provided image rather than a stock motif, rendered as a raised dimensional emblem
02
Sandblasted background specifically chosen so the raised design and polished border stand out by contrast
03
Back engraved with 'Trust the Process' after the client's original choice of a longer quote didn't fit the pendant's size
04
Bail intentionally widened to fit the client's own existing 3.8mm rope chain rather than requiring a new chain purchase
05
Solid 10k gold construction rather than plated metal, sized to approximately a quarter as specifically requested

How you'd make it yours

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

Size: this piece is quarter-sized; a new piece could be made larger or smaller to fit a different reference image

Background finish: this piece uses a sandblasted matte background; a new commission could use an all-polished finish instead

Engraving: the back of this piece carries a short phrase; a new commission could carry a different phrase, name, or date

Chain: this piece was fitted to the client's own existing chain; a new commission could include a matching chain

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

Design changes made

The client considered engraving a full historical quote on the back but switched to the shorter phrase 'Trust the Process' once told the original text wouldn't fit the pendant's size. The bail was also widened from the original design to properly fit the client's existing 3.8mm rope chain.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a symbol with real personal meaning turned into something wearable, rather than picking a design off a shelf. It's especially right if you already have an image or phrase that means something specific to you and want it rendered carefully in solid gold rather than approximated.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the piece was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was placed in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten 10k yellow gold was poured into that mold under pressure. After cooling, the raw pendant was removed from the mold and prepared for finishing. The front emblem area was finished with a sandblasted matte background so the raised fern-like design and polished border would stand out by contrast, while the rim, bail, and back plate were polished smooth. The back plate was then engraved with the client's chosen phrase in block lettering. The bail opening was sized to the client's own existing rope chain rather than a new one supplied by the studio.

Key note

The background was intentionally sandblasted rather than polished, so the raised emblem reads clearly by contrast rather than relying on depth alone.

Pricing guidance

A dimensional engraved pendant of this size and metal sits toward the lower-middle range for custom gold pendant work. Most of the cost comes from the 3D modeling and raised detailing required to turn a flat image into a dimensional design, plus the gold content itself. Background finish and back engraving add relatively little on top of that baseline.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 10k to 14k or 18k gold, which increases both material cost and purity
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond roughly an inch, which requires more gold and more detailed modeling
↑
Adding gemstones or accent stones to the design, which requires setting work
↑
Engraving a longer or more elaborate inscription requiring smaller, more precise lettering
↑
Adding a matching chain in the same gold karat rather than using an existing chain

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant size below a quarter, which uses less metal and simplifies the raised detailing
↓
Choosing a flatter, non-dimensional engraved design instead of raised relief
↓
Omitting the back engraving entirely
↓
Using sterling silver or gold-plated silver instead of solid 10k gold
↓
Skipping the sandblasted background finish for an all-polished surface

Questions people ask

Can you turn any image into a raised pendant design?

Most images with clear, well-defined shapes translate well into a raised dimensional pendant, especially simple emblems, symbols, or line-based designs. The image is used as a reference to build a 3D model, which determines how the raised and recessed areas will look in metal. Very fine detail or complex shading in the original image may need to be simplified to read clearly in metal. A photorealistic 3D render is shared before production so you can confirm the design works before anything is cast.

What's the difference between 10k and 14k gold for a pendant like this?

10k gold contains about 41.7% pure gold, while 14k contains about 58.3%, making 14k a richer color and slightly higher material cost. Both are durable enough for daily wear, though 10k is actually slightly harder and more scratch-resistant due to its higher alloy content. The main differences a wearer notices are color depth and resale material value, not durability for a pendant of this type. 10k is a common choice for buyers who want solid gold without the higher cost of 14k or 18k.

How does a sandblasted background finish work and does it wear well over time?

Sandblasting creates a matte, slightly textured surface by blasting fine abrasive particles at the metal, which scatters light instead of reflecting it like a polished surface does. This contrast makes raised or engraved details stand out more clearly than they would against a mirror-polished background. The matte texture can dull slightly with handling over years of wear, but it does not wear off the way plating would, since it's a surface treatment on solid gold, not a coating. Occasional re-sandblasting by a jeweler can restore the original texture if desired.

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

A quarter-sized dimensional pendant in 10k gold with a sandblasted background and back engraving falls in the lower-middle range for custom pendant work. The primary cost driver is the 3D design and modeling work needed to convert a flat reference image into a raised, three-dimensional metal design, along with the gold content itself. Adding gemstones, upgrading the gold karat, or increasing the size would push the cost higher, while a flatter design or smaller size would bring it down.

How long does it take to make a custom engraved pendant from a reference image?

The design phase, where a reference image is turned into a 3D render for approval, typically takes about one week. Once the design is approved, production — casting, finishing, and engraving — generally takes several additional weeks depending on the finishing steps involved. Pieces with a sandblasted background and back engraving don't add significant time beyond a standard cast pendant. The full process from design approval to shipping is generally a few weeks.

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

Yes, the bail opening can be sized to fit an existing chain as long as the chain's gauge or width is provided before production. In this case, the bail was widened to properly accommodate a thicker rope chain the client already owned. It's best to confirm your chain's width in millimeters before the piece is cast, since the bail opening is set during the casting stage and is difficult to adjust significantly afterward. If you're unsure of your chain's exact width, a photo next to a ruler or coin is usually enough to confirm it.

Can text be engraved on the back of a pendant like this?

Yes, back engraving is a standard option on a solid-backed pendant like this one. The amount of text that will fit depends on the pendant's size and the font style chosen — a full quote or long passage often needs to be shortened to fit legibly on a piece this size. Block lettering, as used here, tends to be easier to read at small scale than script fonts. It's worth deciding on the final engraving text before the design moves to production, since changes after casting are more limited.

Is a raised dimensional design more fragile than a flat engraved one?

A raised design cast directly into solid gold is not more fragile than a flat engraving — both are part of the solid metal structure rather than an applied layer. The raised areas sit higher than the background but are still solid cast gold, so they hold up to normal daily wear the same way the rest of the pendant does. The main consideration is that very fine, delicate raised details could wear smoother over decades of handling, the same way any raised detail on a coin or medallion would. For typical pendant wear, this is not a practical concern.