Home Get Inspired Pendants Masonry Business Name Pendant in 14k Gold with Trowel

A 14k yellow gold pendant with cursive script text reading a business name above blocky capital letters, hanging from a cable chain against a marble background.

Masonry Business Name Pendant in 14k Gold with Trowel

$$$

14k yellow gold

A client wanted his family masonry business name worn as a pendant — something substantial enough to match the kind of gold chain he already wears. He was nervous going into a custom process he'd never tried before, asking repeated questions about weight, size, and cost along the way. When it arrived, he sent a photo wearing it and wrote simply: 'I do, thank you.'

'I do, thank you.' — on delivery

Start your project

For himself Hands-on work Make Your Mark Business / brand logo

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 14k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Cut out Logo Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Business / brand logo

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 2in x 1in; pre-production weight approximately 12-13 grams in 14k yellow gold.

How they made it distinctive

01
Two contrasting lettering styles combined in one pendant — cursive script for the business name, bold block capitals for the trade line beneath it
02
Cast fully solid rather than lightened, specifically to avoid a thin or hollow feel on a larger-scale piece
03
Sized at roughly 2 by 1 inches to make a visible statement without being disproportionate to a thicker chain
04
Upgraded to 14k gold from the original 10k estimate for richer color and higher gold content
05
Cut-out construction keeps the lettering open and dimensional rather than mounted on a solid backing plate

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is 14k yellow gold — a new commission could use 10k for a lower gold content or 18k for a richer tone

Lettering style: this piece pairs script and block type — a new piece could use a single font or a different style pairing

Construction: this piece is cast fully solid — a new commission could use a lightened casting for reduced weight

Size: this piece is sized at roughly 2 by 1 inches — a new piece is sized to the wearer's own chain and preference

Background: this piece uses cut-out lettering — a new commission could use a solid backing plate instead

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

Design changes made

The piece was upgraded from an initial 10k estimate to 14k yellow gold at the client's request after he confirmed the added cost. The size and solid cut-out construction matched the original brief throughout, addressing his concern that the piece might end up thin or lightweight.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants their business or trade worn as a visible, personal statement rather than tucked into a wallet or a sign. It's especially right if you want something substantial — not a thin, lightweight charm — and you already wear a thicker chain that a delicate pendant would get lost on.

How it's made

Once the design was approved from the photorealistic render, the piece moved into production with a design quality check, then a wax model was 3D printed 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 14k yellow gold was cast into that mold under pressure to produce the solid raw pendant. After casting, the pendant was cleaned and the cut-out letterforms were hand-finished to sharpen the transitions between the cursive script and the block lettering beneath it. The piece was then polished to a high shine across all surfaces, including the inside edges of the open lettering, before the bail was finished to accept the client's existing chain.

Key note

The pendant was deliberately cast solid rather than hollow, which is why it carries real weight at roughly 12-13 grams pre-production — a client concern addressed directly before production began.

Pricing guidance

A large solid-gold cut-out nameplate pendant of this size sits toward the mid-to-upper range for custom pendant work. Most of the cost comes from the sheer amount of 14k gold required for a solid 2-inch piece plus the hand-finishing needed to clean up cut-out lettering in two different type styles. Metal karat and whether the piece is cast solid or lightened are the biggest levers on price.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond 2x1 inches, which adds gold weight disproportionately
↑
Choosing 18k gold instead of 14k for a higher gold content
↑
Adding a diamond or gemstone accent within the lettering
↑
Requesting a double-sided finish with engraving on the back
↑
Keeping the piece fully solid rather than lightened/hollowed for weight reduction

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant size
↓
Switching to 10k gold, which lowers the gold cost noticeably
↓
Choosing gold-plated silver for a similar look at a lower material cost
↓
Simplifying to a single lettering style rather than two contrasting fonts
↓
Allowing a lightened or semi-hollow casting instead of a fully solid piece

Questions people ask

How much does a custom gold name pendant like this cost?

A solid 14k gold nameplate pendant around 2 inches wide with cut-out lettering in two styles typically falls in the mid-to-upper range for custom pendant work. The price is driven mainly by the amount of gold needed for a solid casting at that size, plus the hand-finishing required to clean up the cut-out letter edges. Choosing a lower karat gold or a lightened casting brings the cost down noticeably. Adding stones, engraving, or increasing the size pushes it higher.

Will a big gold pendant like this feel hollow or flimsy?

It depends entirely on how it's cast. A solid casting at this size carries real weight — this particular piece came in around 12-13 grams pre-production in 14k gold, which gives it substance rather than a thin, hollow feel. A thinner or lightened casting of the same dimensions would feel noticeably lighter and less substantial. If weight matters to you, confirm with your jeweler whether the piece will be cast solid before production starts.

What's the difference between 10k and 14k gold for a pendant like this?

Both are real gold alloys, but 14k contains a higher percentage of pure gold than 10k, which generally gives it a richer color and a higher cost. For a solid piece of this size, moving from 10k to 14k can add several hundred dollars to the total because of how much more gold is needed to cast a 2-inch piece. 10k is more affordable and still durable for daily wear. The choice usually comes down to budget and color preference rather than durability, since both hold up well.

Can you make a pendant with cut-out lettering instead of a solid background?

Yes, cut-out lettering is a standard technique for name and word pendants — the letters are cast as open forms rather than raised on a solid backing plate. This gives the piece a lighter visual appearance and lets light pass through the open areas, even when the piece itself is cast solid and substantial. It works well for combining two different lettering styles, like a script name over a block-letter line of text. The main design decision is simply confirming before production whether you want cut-out or solid-backed letters, since that changes the final look significantly.

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

From design approval to shipping, a piece like this typically takes about three to four weeks in production, following roughly a week of design and render revisions beforehand. The process includes 3D printing a wax model, casting the metal, then hand-finishing and polishing before the piece ships. More complex lettering or added stones can extend that timeline slightly. Rush timelines are possible but are a separate conversation with your jeweler.

Can a pendant like this fit a thick gold chain?

Yes, the bail — the loop that connects the pendant to the chain — can be sized to accommodate a thicker chain if you specify that upfront. This is particularly important for larger, heavier pendants like a 2-inch solid nameplate, since a bail that's too narrow will look mismatched or wear unevenly against a substantial chain. Confirming your existing chain's width before the piece is cast avoids having to make adjustments later. It's a simple detail to get right the first time.

Is a two-font design (script plus block letters) harder to make?

It adds some complexity compared to a single uniform font, mainly in the hand-finishing stage where the cut-out edges of two different letter styles need to be cleaned up and polished to the same standard. The casting process itself handles both fonts in one pour, so it doesn't significantly change production time. The bigger consideration is design clarity — making sure the two fonts are legible and balanced together before the design is approved. This is typically resolved during the render-review stage before any metal is cast.

Can I see what the back of a cut-out pendant looks like before it's made?

Yes, many jewelers can share a 3D model file that lets you rotate and view the piece from every angle, including the back, before it goes into production. This is especially useful for cut-out designs since the back shows the same open lettering as the front, just reversed. Keep in mind that a 3D preview file often displays at a much larger scale than the actual finished piece, and surfaces will look rougher than the final polished result. It's a useful step for catching any design concerns before casting begins.