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Engraved Initial Pendant — Scanned Recreation in Silver

Sterling silver

A client wanted to recreate her late grandmother's initial pendant so that she and her cousin could each keep a version close — her cousin keeping the original, and this piece built as a faithful match. The original was brought in and scanned to capture its exact proportions and engraving before the new piece was cast. When it arrived, she wrote: 'It looks perfect. Thank you so much for this wonderful piece.'

'It looks perfect. Thank you so much for this wonderful piece, and for the complimentary chain.' — on delivery

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Daily wear For herself Recreate What Mattered Family heirloom recreation

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Engraved Family Letter initial Memorial Signature handwriting

Design Complexity

Simple

Intent

Recreate What Mattered Family heirloom recreation

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant 20mm × 18mm; engraved area 15mm × 10mm. Chain 2mm width × 10in (25.5cm) — reference only, not included.

How they made it distinctive

01
Pendant built from a direct 3D scan of the original heirloom piece rather than photos alone, for a near-exact match in proportion and engraving
02
Cursive initial preserved exactly as it appeared on the original pendant being kept by a family member
03
Stepped, rounded bezel edge carried over faithfully from the scanned original design
04
Sterling silver chosen specifically to match the client's daily wear preference and budget over a gold upgrade offer

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is sterling silver — a new commission could use 10k, 14k, or 18k white or yellow gold for a similar look with different durability

Initial or engraving: this piece carries a single cursive letter — a new piece could use a different letter, font style, or short word

Pendant size: this piece is approximately 20mm × 18mm — a new commission could be made larger or smaller

Bezel edge: the stepped, rounded border is part of this design's identity and would need to be simplified to meaningfully change its look

One of a kind: this exact pendant was scanned and cast to match a specific family heirloom and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The piece was planned initially without a firm metal decision, moving from a gold estimate to a final choice of sterling silver once budget and the client's preference for silver were confirmed. No changes were made to the engraving or pendant shape from what was scanned from the original.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a quiet, wearable way to carry a family connection rather than a decorative statement piece. It's especially right if you're trying to match or honor an existing heirloom as closely as possible, down to the exact letterform and proportions of the original.

How it's made

Once the scanned measurements were confirmed, the design team built a 3D model matching the original pendant's proportions and engraving, which the client approved as a photorealistic render before production began. The model was then 3D-printed in wax, attached to a tree, and invested in plaster for a kiln burnout that left a hollow mold. Molten sterling silver was poured into the mold under pressure to cast the raw pendant. After casting, the pendant was cleaned and polished to bring out the stepped, rounded bezel edge framing the engraved center. The cursive initial, carried over from the scan of the original piece, was finished by hand to keep the engraving crisp and legible. The piece was polished to a bright finish throughout, with no secondary plating or texture zones, keeping the surface treatment consistent with the original heirloom.

Key note

Because the design was built from a 3D scan of the original pendant rather than photos alone, the stepped bezel edge and engraving proportions could be matched almost exactly rather than estimated.

Pricing guidance

A simple engraved silver tag pendant like this sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. Most of the cost comes from the casting and finishing labor rather than the material itself, since sterling silver is a modest base metal. Metal choice is the single biggest lever on price for a design this straightforward.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from sterling silver to 10k, 14k, or 18k white or yellow gold
↑
Adding a center stone or birthstone accent to the engraved face
↑
Engraving both the front and back of the pendant
↑
Choosing platinum, which is denser and more expensive per gram than gold or silver

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant size, which lowers the metal weight and casting cost
↓
Skipping the matching chain and sourcing one separately
↓
Simplifying the bezel edge from a stepped profile to a single flat border

Questions people ask

Can you recreate an old pendant from scanning the original piece?

Yes. When the original piece is available, it can be physically scanned to capture its exact dimensions, engraving, and edge detail, which produces a far more accurate match than working from photos alone. The scan is used to build a 3D model that becomes the basis for a photorealistic render for approval before anything is cast. This approach is especially useful for family pieces where even small proportions matter to the people who remember the original.

How durable is a sterling silver pendant for everyday wear?

Sterling silver is a durable metal for pendants, rated around 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it more prone to surface scratching than gold but still perfectly suitable for daily wear. It will tarnish slowly over time with air exposure, especially if not worn regularly, but tarnish can be removed with a basic polishing cloth. For a flat engraved pendant like this, light surface wear is unlikely to affect the legibility of the engraving. Occasional polishing keeps the bright finish looking fresh.

What does a custom engraved silver pendant like this typically cost?

A simple engraved tag pendant in sterling silver sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing, since the design is straightforward and the metal itself is modest in cost. Most of the price covers the labor of 3D modeling, casting, and hand-finishing the engraving rather than raw material. Upgrading to gold or adding stones would move the price higher, while keeping the design this simple keeps costs contained.

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

A piece like this typically takes about one week for the design phase, including the 3D model and render approval, followed by three to four additional weeks for production. If an original piece needs to be physically received and scanned first, that step is added to the front of the timeline before design can begin. Total turnaround is commonly five to six weeks from approval to delivery on a standard schedule.

Can the same initial pendant be made in gold instead of silver?

Yes, the same design can be produced in 10k, 14k, or 18k white or yellow gold rather than sterling silver, with the main difference being cost rather than appearance, since white gold and rhodium-plated silver look very similar. Gold will generally hold up to daily wear with less tarnishing than silver. The engraving and bezel design remain the same regardless of which metal is chosen.

Can you match an engraving style exactly, like a specific cursive letter?

Yes, when a specific letterform is important, the best approach is to provide a clear photo or a physical piece showing the exact letter style so it can be reproduced closely rather than substituted with a generic font. A scan of the original letter captures the stroke width and flourish details more accurately than a photo reference alone. This matters most for pieces meant to closely match an existing design, like a matched heirloom set.

Does a pendant like this come with a chain included?

Not necessarily — chains are often sold separately from the pendant itself, so a client can choose their own chain length and style to pair with the pendant. Some finished orders do include a complimentary chain depending on the project, but this varies and should be confirmed when ordering. The pendant's bail is sized to accommodate a standard chain width, so most chain choices will work without modification.