Home Get Inspired Pendants Fish Hook Pendant — Gold Logo Design with Emerald Eye

An 18k yellow gold pendant shaped like a stylized fish hook and fish head, with a small round emerald set as the eye and raised detail along the head, hanging from a gold rope chain.

Fish Hook Pendant — Gold Logo Design with Emerald Eye

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18k yellow gold, lab-created emerald

A client wanted the 'I' from his company's logo turned into wearable jewelry — a billfish curved into a fish hook, worked out in gold with an emerald for the fish's eye. He approved the first render without any changes to the core design, and later returned to commission a second, smaller version of the same piece for a different use. On delivery he wrote: 'It is perfect! Thanks so much for your help.'

'That is gorgeous. It's exactly what I am looking for.' — on seeing the first render

'It is perfect! Thanks so much for your help.' — on delivery

Start your project

Daily wear For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 18k

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Emerald

Accent Stones

None

Style

Animals Cut out Fandom Logo

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1in tall. Chain 2.5mm width x 20in length, rope style. Emerald stone approximately 1.25mm.

How they made it distinctive

01
Design is drawn directly from the 'I' in the client's company logo, reimagined as a billfish curving into a fish hook
02
Single round emerald set as the fish's eye — the only stone on the piece, keeping the design graphic and clean
03
Raised outline detailing gives a flat logo shape real dimension without adding a busy or cluttered look
04
Bail permanently soldered to the rope chain, a security choice specific to the 18k gold content and the piece's value
05
Client returned to commission a smaller second version of the same design, proving out the mold for repeat use

How you'd make it yours

Stone: this piece uses a lab-created emerald; a new commission could use a natural emerald, a sapphire, or a different accent color

Metal: this piece is 18k yellow gold; the same design works in 14k yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold

Chain: this piece uses a 2.5mm rope chain at 20 inches; a new piece could use a cable, box, or figaro chain at a different length

Size: this piece is sized at approximately 1 inch; a new commission can be scaled larger or smaller to suit the wearer

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

Design changes made

Design matched the initial brief without major changes. The chain was upgraded from a cable style to a 2.5mm rope chain, and gold karat was raised from 14k to 18k, at the client's request during the design phase.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a personal or professional emblem turned into something wearable, not just printed or embroidered. It's especially right if you have a specific mark or symbol — a logo, an initial, a shape with real meaning to you — and want it rendered in solid gold with enough detail to read clearly at pendant scale.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the team built a 3D CAD model and printed a resin version on a 3D printer — the first physical form of the pendant, shared with the client as a preview. That resin was used to create a wax model, which was attached to a tree and invested in plaster; the mold was fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow cavity. Molten 18k yellow gold was then cast into the mold under pressure and allowed to cool before the raw pendant was extracted. After casting, the pendant was cleaned, polished to a uniform shine, and the raised outline detailing was refined by hand. A single round emerald was set into the fish's eye socket. Because of the gold content and the value of the finished piece, the bail was permanently soldered to the rope chain rather than left as a detachable connection.

Key note

The bail was permanently soldered to the chain rather than left detachable — a deliberate security measure recommended by the master jeweler specifically because of the 18k gold content.

Pricing guidance

A logo-inspired cut-out pendant in 18k gold with a single accent stone sits in the mid-to-upper range for custom pendant work. Gold karat and chain style are the biggest levers on cost — an 18k rope chain adds meaningfully more than a 14k cable chain of the same length. The pendant's moderate complexity (raised outline detailing, one stone setting) keeps labor cost lower than a fully dimensional or multi-stone design.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Raising the gold karat from 14k to 18k
↑
Upgrading the chain style from cable to a thicker rope chain
↑
Increasing chain length beyond 20 inches
↑
Adding additional stones beyond the single accent
↑
Choosing a natural emerald rather than a lab-created one

Moves price down ↓

↓
Dropping to 14k gold instead of 18k
↓
Choosing a simple cable chain instead of a rope chain
↓
Shortening the chain length
↓
Reducing the pendant size below 1 inch
↓
Selecting a lab-created stone rather than a natural one

Questions people ask

Can you turn a company logo into a pendant?

Yes. A two-dimensional logo can be translated into a dimensional pendant by tracing its outline and adding depth through a raised border or cut-out silhouette. The process starts with a sketch, then a 3D CAD model, then a photorealistic render for approval before anything is cast. Fine details like a single letter or symbol within a logo often translate especially well into a compact pendant shape.

What's the difference between a lab-created and natural emerald?

Lab-created emeralds have the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural emeralds, so they look identical to the eye. The difference is origin and cost — lab-created stones are grown in a controlled setting rather than mined, which typically makes them more accessible at the same size and clarity. Natural emeralds of comparable size and clarity generally cost more due to rarity. Both are suitable as a small accent stone like a single-eye setting on a pendant.

Why would a pendant's bail be permanently attached to the chain?

On higher-karat gold pieces, a permanently soldered bail-to-chain connection is sometimes recommended over a detachable clasp for security — it removes the risk of the pendant separating from the chain and being lost. This is a judgment call based on the piece's value and the client's preference. The tradeoff is that the pendant and chain become a single unit and can't be swapped independently afterward.

What does a custom gold pendant like this typically cost?

A cut-out or raised-outline pendant in 18k gold with one accent stone and a rope chain sits in the mid-to-upper price range for custom pendant work. The gold karat and chain style are the two biggest cost drivers — an 18k rope chain costs meaningfully more than a 14k cable chain. Complexity of the design itself (how much hand-finishing the outline requires) is a secondary factor.

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

From design approval to completion, a piece like this typically takes three to four weeks in production, following about a week of design refinement beforehand. The process moves through a 3D model, a resin preview, wax casting, metal casting, and finishing and stone setting. Total time from first conversation to delivery is usually five to eight weeks depending on how quickly the design is approved.

Can you make a smaller version of an existing pendant design?

Yes — once a design and mold exist, a smaller or differently sized version can typically be produced more quickly since the design phase is already complete. There are some constraints: accent stones have minimum available sizes, so proportions may need slight adjustment to keep the design balanced at a smaller scale. This is a common request from repeat clients wanting a second piece in a different size or for a different purpose.

Is 18k gold more durable than 14k gold for daily wear?

14k gold is actually somewhat more durable than 18k for daily wear because it contains a higher percentage of alloy metals, making it harder and more scratch-resistant. 18k gold has a richer, deeper color because it contains more pure gold, but it is comparatively softer. Neither is a bad choice for daily wear — the decision usually comes down to preferred color and budget rather than durability alone.