Home Get Inspired Pendants Gold Star Pendant Recreated from a Ring’s Top Design

A 10k yellow gold pendant featuring a raised polished gold star set against royal blue enamel, framed by a rope-textured wreath with a bow at the bottom, hanging from a delicate gold chain.

Gold Star Pendant Recreated from a Ring's Top Design

10k yellow gold, blue enamel

R. wanted the star design from the top of an existing ring recreated as its own pendant, small enough to wear on a chain rather than a finger. During design he asked for the wreath border rotated so its bow centered under the star, and asked about hiding the bail before settling on keeping it narrow and functional instead. After the piece was finished, he added a short back engraving in memory of two people before it shipped in time for the holidays.

'Paid in full! Thanks, eagerly awaiting it' — on final payment before shipping

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Christmas Daily wear Recreate What Mattered Everyday replica

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Engraved Medallion style Memorial Star

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Recreate What Mattered Everyday replica

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant bail width approximately 3mm at widest point.

How they made it distinctive

01
Star motif taken from the top of an existing ring and rebuilt as a standalone pendant design rather than a generic star charm
02
Wreath border rotated so its decorative bow centers beneath the star, adjusted specifically at the client's request
03
Bail deliberately kept narrow rather than hidden, balancing a discreet look with the practical need for a chain to pass through
04
Blue enamel fill chosen to contrast with the raised gold star and wreath detailing
05
Back engraved with a memorial inscription added late in production as a final personal touch

How you'd make it yours

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

Enamel color: this piece uses a single blue field; a new piece could use a different color or multiple colors

Border style: the wreath border could be swapped for a plainer frame or a different decorative motif

Engraving: the back of a new pendant can carry its own inscription, name, or short phrase

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

The outer wreath border was rotated so its decorative bow sits centered beneath the star, per the client's request after seeing the first render. A fully hidden rear bail was considered but ruled out because it would cause the pendant to tilt or flip when worn; the bail was instead kept as narrow as functionally possible.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who has a design element from a piece they already own — a ring, a pin, a family symbol — that they want to carry in a different form. It's especially right if you want a small, wearable way to keep a personal or memorial detail close without recreating an entire piece from scratch.

How it's made

The design was rebuilt as a 3D model based on the star motif from the client's existing ring, adapted so it could be worn as a standalone pendant on a chain. Once approved, a wax model was produced and joined to a wax tree before being invested and fired in a kiln to melt away the wax and form a mold. Molten 10 karat gold was then poured into the mold, producing the raw pendant, which was cleaned up and polished before finishing. The circular field at the center was filled with blue enamel to set off the raised gold star, while the surrounding wreath border and bail were left in polished gold. After casting and enamel fill, the back of the pendant was engraved with a short memorial inscription as a final step before shipping.

Key note

The bail was intentionally kept narrow (about 3mm at its widest point) rather than hidden behind the pendant, since a fully rear-mounted bail would let the piece tilt forward or flip when worn.

Pricing guidance

A 10k gold enamel pendant of moderate complexity, adapted from an existing design and finished with a back engraving, sits toward the lower-middle range for custom pendant work. Most of the cost comes from creating a new model to adapt an existing motif for pendant wear, plus the enamel fill and engraving labor. Metal karat and enamel color complexity are the next biggest variables.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 10k to 14k or 18k gold
↑
Adding multiple enamel colors instead of a single field color
↑
Increasing the size or diameter of the pendant
↑
Adding stones or accent diamonds around the border
↑
Engraving on both sides rather than one

Moves price down ↓

↓
Skipping the enamel fill for a plain polished finish
↓
Choosing a smaller pendant diameter
↓
Omitting the wreath border for a simpler frame
↓
Skipping the back engraving
↓
Using a simpler bail style with less finishing detail

Questions people ask

How durable is enamel on a gold pendant like this?

Enamel fill on gold jewelry is fired at high heat to bond permanently to the metal, and it holds up well under normal daily wear. It can chip if struck hard against a hard surface, so it's best to remove pendants like this before contact sports or heavy manual work. Color can also shift very slightly in appearance depending on lighting, which is why renders are never a perfect match to the finished enamel color. With reasonable care, enamel fill like this lasts for many years without needing touch-up.

Can you turn part of an existing ring design into a new pendant?

Yes. This pendant recreated just the star motif from the top of an existing ring, rebuilt as its own standalone design rather than physically cut from the ring. A new 3D model has to be built because a ring's structure and a pendant's structure are different — the ring's shank and prongs don't translate directly to a pendant bail. The client reviewed a render first and requested adjustments, like rotating the border pattern, before the design was finalized.

What does a small custom gold enamel pendant typically cost?

A pendant like this, in 10k gold with a single enamel color and a moderate level of detail, falls toward the lower-middle range for custom pendant work. The main cost drivers are the labor to model a new design, the enamel application, and any engraving. Upgrading the gold karat or adding multiple enamel colors would push the cost higher.

Why does the pendant bail have to be a certain size?

The bail has to be wide enough on the inside for a chain to pass through, and the widest point of a chain is usually where the clasp or clasp ring sits, not the chain links themselves. Making the bail too small risks the finished pendant not being able to take a normal chain at all. On this piece the bail was kept as narrow as possible while still meeting that functional requirement, at about 3mm at its widest point.

Can the bail be hidden on the back of a pendant so it doesn't show?

It's technically possible to mount a bail fully on the back of a pendant, but it tends to cause the pendant to tilt forward or even flip when worn, since the hidden bail becomes the point resting against the chest. Most designers avoid this approach for that reason and instead aim to make a front-mounted bail as small and unobtrusive as the chain will allow. That's the approach used on this piece — a narrow, functional bail rather than a hidden one.

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

From design approval to a finished piece, a pendant like this typically takes several weeks total: about a week for the 3D design and render approval process, then roughly four weeks for production, including casting, enamel work, and finishing. Adding a custom engraving toward the end can add a bit more time since it happens after the piece is otherwise complete. Total turnaround from first deposit to shipping is commonly around six to eight weeks.

Can you engrave a personal message on the back of a pendant?

Yes, engraving on the back of a flat pendant surface like this is a common finishing step, usually done after casting and any enamel work is complete. Space is limited on a small pendant, so short phrases arranged across two or three lines work best, and the exact layout may need to be adjusted to fit legibly. It's best to approve a final engraving layout before it's applied, since space constraints can require minor wording or spacing adjustments.

What metal options are available for a pendant like this besides 10k gold?

The same design could be made in 14k or 18k yellow gold for a richer color and higher gold content, or in white gold or rose gold for a different look. Sterling silver with gold plating is also an option for a similar appearance at a different price point. The enamel fill process works with any of these metal choices.