Home Get Inspired Pendants Memorial Cross Pendant Set — Rose Gold, Script Detail & Garnet

A rose gold cross pendant with a small round red garnet set at the center of the crossbar, with cursive script text flowing down below the lower arm, shown with a matching sterling silver version on a cable chain.

Memorial Cross Pendant Set — Rose Gold, Script Detail & Garnet

Rose gold plated sterling silver, sterling silver, natural garnet

W. wanted a cross pendant that matched a meaningful tattoo as closely as possible, with a garnet marking a January birth month, to give as memorial gifts to family for Christmas. He had the design made in five pendants — three larger and two smaller — in a mix of rose gold and silver, so everyone could carry the same piece. When they arrived he wrote simply: 'They look amazing.'

'They look amazing' — on delivery

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Christmas For the whole family Memorial In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Rose gold 18k

Secondary Metal

Sterling silver

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Garnet

Accent Stones

None

Style

Cross Memorial Religios Signature handwriting Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

In Their Memory Memorial for a person

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant sizes: 1.5in (×3) and 0.75in (×2). Chain 1.5mm × 18in cable, sterling silver.

How they made it distinctive

01
Script lettering modeled directly from a client-provided tattoo photo rather than a generic font, to stay as close as possible to the original design
02
Single garnet set at the crossbar specifically to mark a January birth month
03
Produced as a set of five pendants across two sizes so multiple family members could receive a piece from the same design
04
Mixed-metal production — rose gold plated silver and sterling silver pieces made within a single order — let each recipient have a slightly different version of the same design
05
Cut-out construction keeps the piece visually light despite the detailed script and cross silhouette

How you'd make it yours

Stone: this set uses a single garnet; a new commission could use any birthstone or a different accent stone entirely

Metal: this set mixes rose gold plated silver and sterling silver; a new piece could be made in solid 14k gold or platinum

Lettering: this piece uses a cursive script word; a new commission could use a different word, name, or font style

Size: this set includes 1.5 inch and 0.75 inch pendants; a new piece is sized to its own wearer's preference

Chain: this set uses a 1.5mm cable chain; a different chain style or length can be paired with a new design

One of a kind: this exact five-piece set was designed for one family's memorial gifts and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

The initial concept of a tattoo-style cross with a smaller cross nested inside was refined into a single cut-out cross with cursive script and one garnet accent after the first sketch and render stage. The metal mix was also finalized mid-production — one large pendant in rose gold and one in silver, with the two small pendants split two silver and one rose gold — to let each family member have a slightly different piece from the same design.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants to turn something deeply personal — a tattoo, a shared symbol, a birth month — into a piece that can be given to more than one person at once. It's especially right for anyone planning a meaningful group gift, where several people are meant to carry a version of the same design rather than a single individual piece.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the piece was 3D printed in wax using the finalized model, then attached to a wax tree and invested in plaster. The flask was fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten metal — sterling silver or rose gold plated sterling silver, depending on the piece — was cast into the mold under pressure. The client was shown a photo of the piece in resin before casting, confirming the final form ahead of production. After casting, each pendant was cleaned, polished, and finished to bring up the shine on the cut-out cross and script lettering. The single garnet was then prong-set at the center of the crossbar on each piece. Because the set included two different sizes and a mix of metals, each pendant was finished and set individually before being paired with its matching cable chain.

Key note

The resin stage doubled as a client preview step — the client saw and approved the exact physical form of the piece in resin before any metal was cast, catching fit and proportion issues before they became costly to fix.

Pricing guidance

A cut-out cross pendant with script lettering and a single accent stone, produced as a multi-piece set, sits toward the lower end of the mid range for custom pendant work. Most of the cost comes from the cut-out detailing and script modeling repeated across multiple pieces and sizes, plus the stone setting on each one. Metal choice and the number of pieces in the order are what move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond 1.5 inches, which uses more metal and requires more cut-out detail
↑
Upgrading from sterling silver or gold-plated silver to solid 14k or 18k gold for all pieces
↑
Adding more than one accent stone per pendant
↑
Ordering additional pendants beyond the original set of five
↑
Choosing a thicker or longer chain than the standard 1.5mm cable

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the number of pieces in the set
↓
Keeping all pendants to the smaller 0.75 inch size
↓
Choosing gold-plated silver rather than solid gold for every piece
↓
Omitting the accent stone entirely
↓
Simplifying the script lettering to a shorter word or initials

Questions people ask

Can you turn a tattoo design into a pendant?

Yes, a tattoo can be used as the design reference for a cut-out or solid pendant. The jeweler works from a photo of the tattoo to recreate the linework in a 3D model, which is shared as a render for approval before anything is cast. Cursive or script-style tattoos translate well into cut-out metalwork because the flowing lines read clearly even at small pendant sizes. Minor adjustments to line thickness are sometimes needed so the design holds up structurally in metal.

What is the difference between sterling silver and rose gold plated silver for a pendant like this?

Sterling silver is solid .925 silver with a bright white-grey tone, while rose gold plated silver is the same sterling silver base with a rose gold layer plated over the surface. The cost to produce either version is typically similar since the base metal is the same. Rose gold plating will show gradual wear over years of daily wear, particularly at points of friction like the bail, while solid sterling silver does not lose its color over time. Both are suitable for a pendant of this size and detail level.

How durable is a garnet in a pendant setting?

Garnet rates about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it reasonably durable for everyday pendant wear since pendants see less impact than rings. It holds color well and does not require special care beyond normal cleaning. Garnet is also a traditional January birthstone, which makes it a common choice when a piece is meant to mark a specific birth month. It will not scratch as easily as softer stones like opal or pearl.

What does a custom cut-out cross pendant typically cost?

A cut-out cross pendant with script text and a single accent stone generally falls toward the lower end of the mid-range for custom pendant work. The cost reflects the 3D modeling needed to get the cut-out linework and script right, plus the labor to finish and set the stone by hand. Ordering multiple pendants in the same design, as part of a set, affects the total but not necessarily the per-piece complexity. Metal choice is one of the larger cost variables.

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

A custom pendant set typically takes several weeks from design approval to shipping, starting with a 3D model and render for the client to approve, followed by a wax/resin preview stage before metal casting. After casting, each piece goes through cleaning, polishing, and stone setting before final quality checks. Producing multiple pendants in different sizes and metal finishes can add some time compared to a single piece, since each one is finished individually. Rush timing around a holiday deadline is possible to request in advance.

Can you make matching pendants in different metal colors for the same design?

Yes, the same pendant design can be produced in a mix of metal finishes — for example, some pieces in rose gold plated silver and others in plain sterling silver — within the same order. This is a common way to give several family members a piece from the same design while giving each one something slightly individual. There is typically no added cost for mixing metal finishes within one order, since the casting and finishing process is the same regardless of final plating. The design, stone, and size stay consistent across all pieces.

Can a pendant like this hold a birthstone for a specific month?

Yes, a birthstone can be set into a cross or script pendant design as a small accent stone, typically at the center or along one arm of the cross. Garnet is the traditional birthstone for January, and similar small accent stones exist for every month. The stone is usually set after casting, once the pendant has been cleaned and polished. This is a common way to personalize a memorial or family piece without changing the overall design.

Is cut-out metalwork structurally strong enough for daily wear?

Cut-out pendant designs are generally durable for daily wear as long as the remaining metal sections are not left too thin, which is something the design and modeling stage accounts for before casting. Script lettering in particular needs enough line thickness to avoid bending or snapping under normal handling. A well-modeled cut-out cross with script text, like this one, holds its shape well through typical wear including a chain and clasp. Avoiding sharp impacts or excessive bending is good practice for any cut-out jewelry piece.