Home Get Inspired Pendants Engraved Gold Memorial Pendant — Round, Script Quote

A round polished 14k yellow gold pendant engraved with cursive script text, hanging from a delicate cable chain against a marble background.

Engraved Gold Memorial Pendant — Round, Script Quote

Gold-plated sterling silver

A client came to us wanting a line from a favorite poem engraved on a pendant — words she and her father used to say to each other to push through hard times. He passed away the year before, and she described being in a season of wanting to live fully while she still can. She switched the engraving font partway through design, choosing a more personal script after seeing the first render, and the result became a daily piece she layers with other necklaces.

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Daily wear For herself Memorial In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Gold plated silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Classic Engraved Memorial Word text

Design Complexity

Simple

Intent

In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1in (25mm) diameter, round. Delicate chain.

How they made it distinctive

01
Engraved on both sides rather than one, pairing two connected lines of text across the front and back
02
Font switched mid-design to a more personal script style after the client reviewed the first render
03
Plain polished disc with no border or background design, so the engraving is the entire visual focus
04
Delicate chain chosen specifically to support layering with other necklaces
05
Round, quarter-sized format kept deliberately small and understated for everyday wear

How you'd make it yours

Engraving: this piece carries two lines of text, one per side — a new commission could carry a single phrase, a name, or a date instead

Metal: this piece is gold-plated sterling silver — the same design works in solid 10k or 14k gold for a permanent finish

Font: this piece uses a laser-engraved script font — a new piece could use a font built directly into the 3D render for a different look

Chain: this piece uses a delicate cable chain for layering — a bolder chain style works for someone who prefers a single statement piece

Size: this piece is sized at about one inch — a new commission is sized to what feels right for its own wearer

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

After approving the initial 3D render, the client requested a font change to a different script style. Because the new font required laser engraving rather than being built into the 3D model, the engraving was removed from the render and applied by hand during production instead of being previewed beforehand.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a quiet, wearable reminder of a phrase that matters to them, rather than a piece that announces itself. It fits someone navigating a season of loss who wants to carry a shared saying close, and who wears their jewelry daily or layers it into an everyday stack rather than saving it for special occasions.

How it's made

Once the design was finalized, the pendant shape was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten metal was cast into that cavity under pressure. After cooling, the raw pendant was removed from the mold and prepared for finishing. Because the client's chosen script font could not be built into the 3D model, the round disc was cast with a plain polished surface on both faces, then laser engraved afterward with the two lines of text — one per side. The engraving was applied as a separate production step rather than being previewed in advance, and the piece was finished with a smooth, unframed edge before being attached to its chain.

Key note

The engraving on this pendant was added after casting, using laser engraving rather than being built into the original 3D model, because the requested font could only be reproduced that way.

Pricing guidance

A simple round engraved pendant like this sits toward the lower end of the price range for custom pendants, since the design itself is minimal — no stones, no raised detail, just a polished disc and engraving. Metal choice is the biggest cost driver here, with solid gold options costing meaningfully more than a gold-plated base. Engraving method and chain choice are secondary factors.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from gold-plated sterling silver to solid 10k or 14k gold
↑
Choosing a thicker or more elaborate chain style instead of a delicate cable chain
↑
Adding a raised border or frame around the edge of the disc
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond the standard one-inch diameter
↑
Adding a stone accent or birthstone to the design

Moves price down ↓

↓
Keeping the gold-plated sterling silver base rather than upgrading to solid gold
↓
Engraving only one side instead of two
↓
Choosing a smaller pendant size
↓
Using a standard engraving font that can be built into the 3D render rather than laser-applied afterward
↓
Selecting a simpler, thinner chain

Questions people ask

How long does engraved gold plating actually last on a pendant like this?

Gold plating is a surface layer applied over a sterling silver base, and it will gradually wear with daily contact, especially where the pendant rubs against skin or clothing. Most plated pieces hold their finish well for one to two years of regular wear before any fading becomes noticeable. Areas with engraving can show wear slightly sooner since the engraved lines sit lower than the surrounding polished surface. Re-plating is a standard service available through most jewelers if the color starts to fade.

Can you engrave a pendant in a script font instead of a standard font?

Yes, though the method depends on the font. Some script fonts can be built directly into the 3D model before casting, which lets you preview the exact engraving in a render before production. Other more delicate or unusual script fonts need to be laser engraved after the piece is cast, which means the engraving won't be visible in the preview render but can still achieve a precise, legible result. Either way, the final engraving is checked for legibility before the piece ships.

What does a simple engraved round pendant like this typically cost?

A plain round pendant with no stones and a polished finish sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing, since there's no stone setting or dimensional detail involved. The main cost driver is the metal: a gold-plated sterling silver base costs meaningfully less than solid 10k or 14k gold of the same size. Chain style and engraving method have a smaller effect on the total price.

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

The design phase typically takes about a week, during which a 3D render is created and refined based on feedback. Once the design is approved and production begins, casting and finishing usually take four to five weeks. If the engraving requires a laser process applied after casting rather than being built into the 3D model, that step is completed during the standard production window rather than adding extra time.

Is gold-plated sterling silver a good choice for a pendant you'll wear every day?

Gold-plated sterling silver is a reasonable choice for regular wear, though the plating is a surface coating rather than solid gold all the way through, so it will show wear over time with daily contact. Solid 10k or 14k gold holds its finish and color permanently since there's no plating to wear away. For a pendant worn daily and layered with other necklaces, the choice comes down to how the owner feels about eventual re-plating versus a higher upfront cost for solid gold.

Can a pendant like this be layered with other necklaces?

Yes, and it's a common way to wear a pendant like this. Choosing a delicate, thinner chain specifically supports layering, since a bulkier chain would compete visually and physically with other necklaces worn at the same time. The pendant itself sits flat with a plain polished surface, so it doesn't catch on adjacent chains the way a dimensional or textured piece might.

Can the engraving be on both sides of a round pendant?

Yes, a round pendant with a plain polished surface on both faces can be engraved front and back, effectively doubling the amount of text or imagery the piece can carry. This works well for pairing two related phrases or lines, one per side, so the pendant reads as a complete thought when flipped over. Double-sided engraving does not require a different pendant shape, only a flat, unobstructed surface on both faces.

What's the difference between engraving built into a 3D render versus laser engraving after casting?

Engraving built into the 3D model is visible in the render before the piece is ever cast, so you can confirm the exact placement and look of the text in advance. Laser engraving, used for certain delicate script fonts that can't be modeled in 3D, is applied to the finished cast piece as a separate step, so there's no render preview of the text itself, only of the plain pendant shape. Both methods produce a legible, permanent result; the choice mainly comes down to which font the client wants.