Home Get Inspired Pendants Heart-Face Line Drawing Pendant in 18k Yellow Gold

A round solid 18k yellow gold pendant engraved with a continuous-line drawing of a smiling heart with two dot eyes, hanging from a yellow gold cable chain.

Heart-Face Line Drawing Pendant in 18k Yellow Gold

$$$

18k yellow gold

R. came to us wanting a personal logo — a heart with a simple smiling face — recreated as an engraved gold pendant. He worked through the design in two rounds, adjusting the chain attachment points and thinning the engraved line so it would sit right at three-quarter-inch scale, and approved the final render before it went into production.

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Daily wear For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 18k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Heart Logo Low-profile Minimal Word text

Design Complexity

Simple

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 0.75in diameter; engraved line detail approximately 0.80mm thick. Chain 18in, 2.4mm, 18k yellow gold cable chain.

How they made it distinctive

01
Personal heart-and-face mark engraved as a single continuous line rather than a filled or dimensional design
02
Bail moved to sit on either side of the disc, changed from the original top-loop design at the client's request
03
Engraved line thinned by about 20% from the first render so the mark would read as delicate rather than heavy at 0.75-inch scale
04
Solid polished background chosen specifically to show off the fine engraved line detail

How you'd make it yours

Background: this piece uses a solid polished disc; a new commission could use a cut-out treatment for a lighter, more open look

Metal: this piece is 18k yellow gold; the same engraved-line design works in 14k gold or white gold

Size: this piece is sized at 0.75 inches; a new commission can be scaled larger or smaller

Chain: this piece pairs with an 18-inch 2.4mm cable chain; a new piece can use a different length or chain style

Engraving: a new commission could add a second design element or short engraving on the back of the disc

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

Design changes made

The bail was moved to sit on either side of the disc rather than as a single top loop, per the client's reference photo, and the engraved line was thinned by about 20% so it would read as delicate rather than heavy at the finished size.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who has a personal mark or drawing that means something to them and wants to wear it, not just keep it as an image. It's especially right for someone who prefers understated, minimal jewelry over anything ornate — a single meaningful line over a busier design.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, a digital 3D model was used to generate a wax pattern, which was invested in plaster and burned out in a kiln to leave a hollow mold. Molten 18k yellow gold was then cast into the mold under pressure, producing the solid disc-shaped pendant base with the heart motif already present in raw form from the casting. After casting, the disc was cleaned up and polished to a mirror finish across the solid background. The engraved line work forming the heart, face, and signature tail was then cut to a fine, consistent depth of about 0.80mm — the minimum width workable for casting at this scale — so the design would stay crisp and legible without looking heavy. The matching 18k gold cable chain was sourced and attached last.

Key note

The engraved line was held to roughly 0.80mm, which is close to the minimum line width that can be reliably cast at this size without the detail blurring or breaking during production.

Pricing guidance

A simple engraved gold disc pendant like this sits toward the mid range for custom pendant work, largely because of the metal karat and gold weight rather than design complexity. The engraving itself is a straightforward single-line cut, so most of the cost comes from the gold content and the matching chain rather than labor-intensive finishing.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 18k to a heavier gauge or larger diameter disc, which increases gold weight
↑
Choosing a thicker or longer matching chain in the same karat gold
↑
Adding a cut-out (rather than solid-background) treatment, which requires more precise piercing work
↑
Adding gemstones or a second engraved element on the back of the disc

Moves price down ↓

↓
Using 14k or 10k gold instead of 18k to reduce material cost
↓
Choosing a smaller diameter than 0.75 inches
↓
Pairing the pendant with a lower-karat or sterling silver chain instead of matching 18k gold
↓
Choosing a cut-out design in a thinner metal rather than a solid polished disc

Questions people ask

Can you turn a personal drawing or logo into a pendant?

Yes, a hand-drawn mark or personal logo can be engraved as a single continuous line onto a metal disc, which is what happened here. The process starts with a sketch based on the client's reference image, moves to a 3D model, and then a photorealistic render for approval before anything is cast. Fine adjustments like line thickness and bail placement are typically refined during this render stage. The result is a wearable version of a design that started as a drawing.

How thin can an engraved line be on a gold pendant?

For cast pieces, there is a practical minimum line width to keep the design from blurring or breaking during casting — on a pendant like this, that minimum was around 0.80mm. Lines thinner than that risk not casting cleanly or being too fragile after polishing. This is usually smaller in person than it looks in a digital render, since renders are typically shown at a much larger scale than the finished piece. A jeweler can advise on the minimum workable width for a specific design and metal.

What's the difference between 14k and 18k gold for a pendant like this?

18k gold contains a higher percentage of pure gold (75%) compared to 14k (about 58%), giving it a richer yellow color and a higher material cost. 14k is more common for everyday wear because it's slightly harder and more scratch-resistant, while 18k has a warmer tone that some people prefer for a piece with sentimental value. Both are durable enough for daily wear as a pendant. The choice mostly comes down to color preference and budget, since the design and engraving process is the same either way.

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

A simple engraved disc pendant in gold sits toward the mid range for custom pendant work, and the price is driven mostly by gold karat and weight rather than design complexity. A solid-background design with a single-line engraving is less labor-intensive than a cut-out or dimensional design, so the main cost variables are the metal choice and the chain. Choosing a heavier chain or upgrading the karat will move the price up, while a smaller disc or lower karat will bring it down.

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

A custom pendant typically takes about one week for the design phase — sketch, 3D model, and render for approval — followed by roughly three to four weeks for production once the design is approved. Total turnaround is usually five to six weeks from deposit to delivery on a standard timeline. Rush timelines are sometimes possible if requested early in the process. Chain sourcing can add a small amount of time depending on the style and length chosen.

Can a pendant like this be made with a cut-out design instead of a solid background?

Yes, most disc-shaped engraved pendants can be made either with a solid polished background or as a cut-out where the line design is pierced all the way through the metal. A solid background tends to show fine engraved detail more clearly and is generally sturdier, while a cut-out gives a lighter, more open look. The choice affects both the final weight and the visual style, so it's worth reviewing both options in a render before deciding. Either version can be done in the same metal and chain combination.

Will the color of the gold in a render match the finished piece exactly?

Not exactly — renders are digital approximations, and the color and luster of real gold vary slightly from how it appears on a screen. The finished metal will have natural warmth and shine that a render can only approximate. This is a normal and expected difference, not a defect. Reviewing a physical sample or asking about the karat's typical tone can help set accurate expectations before approval.

Can the chain attachment points be changed on a disc pendant?

Yes, bail placement is a design choice that can be adjusted before production — for example, attaching the chain through loops on either side of the disc rather than a single loop at the top. This affects how the pendant sits and rotates when worn. Changes like this are best made during the render review stage, before the design moves to casting. Once approved, the bail position becomes a fixed part of the final piece.