Home Get Inspired Pendants Ghost & Scythe Pendant — Hand-Set CZ Skull Design

A sterling silver pendant shaped like a hooded ghost figure holding a scythe, the ghost's face densely set with black and colorless cubic zirconia in a skull pattern, with engraved text along the hood and scythe handle, on a silver curb-link chain.

Ghost & Scythe Pendant — Hand-Set CZ Skull Design

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Sterling silver, cubic zirconia

G. came to us with a single reference photo of a hooded skull-and-scythe design and a clear vision for how it should be built in metal. Over several rounds of sketches and a 3D render, the piece grew from a 1-inch concept to a bold 2.5-inch pendant densely set with over 220 CZs. When it arrived, he wrote: 'It looks better than I could have imagined! It turned out so amazing.'

'That looks absolutely amazing!!!' — on seeing the first sketch

'It looks better than I could have imagined! It turned out so amazing you guys did an unbelievable job.' — on delivery

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For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Cubic zirconia

Accent Stones

Other

Style

Cut out Fandom Gothic skull Symbolic Word text

Design Complexity

Complex

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 2.5in. Chain 20in.

How they made it distinctive

01
Fully cut-out silhouette rather than a solid-backed plaque, built directly from a single reference photo
02
Over 220 black and colorless CZs hand-set to echo the shading of the original image
03
Engraved curved text on the scythe deliberately left stone-free so the wording stays legible
04
Grown from an initial 1-inch concept to a bold 2.5-inch size at the client's request
05
Crowned bail and small skull accent add dimensional detail beyond the main hooded face and scythe

How you'd make it yours

Stone type: this piece uses CZs — a new commission could use lab diamonds or natural diamonds for added durability and value

Metal: this piece is sterling silver — the same cut-out design language works in 14k gold or gold-plated silver

Size: made at 2.5 inches for this wearer's preference — a new piece can be scaled larger or smaller

Stone density: this piece is heavily paved — a new commission could use sparser stone placement for a lighter look

Engraving: the curved text areas can carry a new phrase or wording on a fresh commission

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed for one client from their own reference image and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The pendant grew from an initially planned 1-inch size to 2.5 inches at the client's request, and CZ placement was adjusted to leave the scythe's engraved text and detail areas clean rather than fully paved. The client also switched his chain preference from a tennis chain to the pictured curb-style chain once a tennis chain could not be sourced.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who already has a strong, specific visual in mind — a piece of art, a photo, a personal symbol — and wants it built as a wearable, dimensional object rather than left as a flat image. It suits someone drawn to bold, graphic statement pieces who wants genuine stone-setting craftsmanship behind a design that feels personal and a little dark.

How it's made

Once the client approved the final 3D render, the design 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 sterling silver was poured into the mold under pressure. After cooling, the raw cut-out pendant was released from the mold and prepared for finishing. The cut-out silhouette was cleaned and polished to bring out the contrast between the open space and the solid metal. Over 220 black and colorless CZs were then hand-set across the hooded face and scythe body, following the sketch's marked stone positions, while the engraved curved text on the blade and handle and the small skull detail were left stone-free so the line work stayed legible. A plain curb chain was sourced separately to complete the piece.

Key note

The rough sketch deliberately left the scythe's text areas free of gemstones so the engraved wording would remain crisp rather than being obscured by stone setting.

Pricing guidance

A large-format cut-out pendant densely set with 200+ CZs in sterling silver sits in the mid range for custom pendant work of this complexity. Most of the cost comes from the sheer volume of hand-set stones rather than the metal itself, since sterling silver is a relatively low-cost base. Pendant size and stone count are the two biggest levers on price for a design like this.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond 2.5 inches, which requires more metal and more surface area to set
↑
Adding more stones or increasing stone density across currently bare areas like the scythe handle
↑
Upgrading from CZs to lab diamonds or natural diamonds for the same stone layout
↑
Switching the base metal from sterling silver to 14k gold or gold-plated silver
↑
Adding a matching chain in a premium style such as a tennis chain instead of a sourced curb chain

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the overall pendant size back toward the original 1-inch concept
↓
Lowering stone count or leaving more of the design as plain cut-out metal
↓
Choosing a solid-backed design instead of a fully cut-out silhouette, which can reduce finishing time
↓
Simplifying the engraved text elements to reduce detail work
↓
Omitting a sourced chain and using an existing chain instead

Questions people ask

How durable are CZ stones set into a pendant like this?

Cubic zirconia is rated about 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it durable enough for regular wear but softer than a diamond. With over 200 stones set closely together, the main risk over time is a stone loosening rather than the stones themselves wearing out. Regular at-home inspection of the prongs or settings is a good habit for any piece with this much stone density. CZs also hold their brilliance well and do not fade or cloud with normal wear.

Can you make a cut-out pendant from a photo or piece of fan art?

Yes, a flat image or photo reference can be translated into a 3D cut-out design through a sketch and render process before anything is cast. The design team maps out where stones will go and which areas stay open or solid based on the original image. This approach works well for graphic, high-contrast designs like skulls, text, and silhouettes. A few rounds of feedback on the sketch and render are typical before the design is finalized.

What does a large custom pendant like this typically cost?

A sterling silver cut-out pendant in the 2 to 2.5 inch range, densely set with 200+ small stones, generally falls in the mid range for custom pendant work. The price is driven mainly by labor — setting that many stones by hand takes significant time regardless of the metal chosen. Stone type, stone count, and overall pendant size are the main variables that move the price up or down.

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

From design approval to a finished piece, production on a heavily stone-set pendant like this typically runs around four to five weeks, not counting the initial design and sketch phase. The process starts with a wax 3D print, followed by casting in metal, then a lengthy hand-setting phase for all the individual stones. A piece with over 200 stones takes longer to set than a simple solitaire pendant, so the stone-setting stage is usually the longest part of production.

Can engraved text stay legible on a pendant that's covered in stones?

Yes, as long as the design plans for it from the start. On this piece, the areas with curved engraved text were deliberately left free of stones during the initial sketch phase so the wording would remain crisp and readable. If stones were packed around the lettering, the text could become visually cluttered or harder to read. Planning stone placement around text elements is a standard part of the design process for pieces that combine engraving and pave-style stone setting.

What's the difference between a solid-backed pendant and a cut-out design?

A solid-backed pendant has a continuous metal background behind the main design, while a cut-out pendant removes the negative space so light passes through the open areas. Cut-out designs tend to look more graphic and dimensional, and they're often lighter in weight since there's less overall metal. The tradeoff is that cut-out designs can require more careful finishing around the open edges. Both styles can support hand-set stones, but stone placement has to account for the open areas in a cut-out piece.

Can I get a tennis chain with a pendant like this?

It depends on availability at the time of your order — tennis chains are not always sourceable as an add-on to a pendant order. If a tennis chain isn't available, a standard curb-link chain is a common substitute and can usually be sourced in a specific length at no significant delay. It's worth asking early in the process so you have alternatives ready if your first choice isn't available. Chain style is generally independent from the pendant design itself, so switching styles doesn't affect the pendant.

Can the stone color be customized to match a specific image or theme?

Yes, CZs are available in a range of colors including black and colorless, which allows a design to mimic shading or contrast found in a reference image. On a piece like this, black and colorless stones were arranged to echo the light and dark areas of the original artwork. Matching stone color exactly to a complex reference image has some limits, so expect close approximation rather than a perfect match. This approach works especially well for graphic, high-contrast designs.