Home Get Inspired Pendants Mountain Pendant in 18k Gold with Hidden Message

A circular 18k yellow gold pendant featuring a cut-out mountain range silhouette with a small raised circle representing the sun, hanging from a cable chain.

Mountain Pendant in 18k Gold with Hidden Message

18k yellow gold

A client came to us wanting a mountain-and-sunrise pendant personalized with a private message for someone he called honey — a line about sailing away together, engraved where only the two of them would know to look. He approved the design and engraving proof without changes, and after it arrived, the team simply checked in to see how he was enjoying it.

'Looks great. Thanks' — on approving the engraving proof

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Daily wear Gift for partner A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 18k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Engraved Nautical Symbolic Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 0.75in diameter (excluding bail). Chain 18in length, 1.3mm width.

How they made it distinctive

01
Open circular frame instead of a solid disc — keeps the pendant lightweight while still reading clearly as a mountain scene
02
Matte-textured ground plane against a polished mountain range and frame, creating visual contrast between elements
03
Private engraved message on the back, invisible from the front, using a typewriter-style font specifically requested by the client
04
18k yellow gold chosen for both pendant and chain for a richer, warmer gold tone than 14k

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is 18k yellow gold — the same design works in 14k yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold

Stone accent: the sun/moon disc is currently solid metal — a new commission could set a small stone in that position

Engraving: the back of this piece carries a private two-line message — a new piece can carry its own inscription

Chain: this piece uses an 18-inch 1.3mm cable chain — a new commission could use a longer, shorter, or thicker chain

Pendant size: this piece is sized just under 0.75 inch — a new piece can be scaled larger or smaller

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed with one couple's private message and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

Design matched the initial brief without major changes.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants to carry a private message with them every day without putting it on display. It's especially right if you want a design that reads as simple and scenic to everyone else, while holding something personal only you and the recipient know about.

How it's made

Once the engraving proof was approved, the design moved into production with a 3D-printed wax model, sent to the client as a resin preview before casting. The model was then invested in plaster and fired to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold that molten 18k yellow gold was cast into under pressure. After cooling, the piece was removed from the mold and cleaned up for finishing. The open circular frame and raised mountain peaks were polished to a bright finish, while the lower ground plane inside the circle was left with a soft matte texture to set the sun and horizon apart from the bright metal above. The back of the pendant was engraved last, in a typewriter-style font, once the piece was fully finished and polished so the lettering would sit crisp against the metal.

Key note

The mountain silhouette is cut as an open frame rather than a solid disc, which keeps the pendant lightweight despite its 18k gold construction.

Pricing guidance

An 18k gold open-frame pendant of moderate complexity with a custom engraving sits in the mid range for custom pendant work. Most of the baseline cost comes from the gold karat and weight rather than the design itself, since the silhouette shape is achieved through casting rather than hand-applied detail. Chain material and length are the next biggest factors.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading the chain from 18k gold-filled or lower karat to a heavier 18k solid gold chain
↑
Adding gemstone accents inside the mountain scene, such as a small diamond for the sun
↑
Increasing the pendant's overall diameter beyond the current 0.75 inch size
↑
Adding a second engraved line or extending the message length significantly
↑
Requesting a two-tone finish with contrasting white gold accents on the peaks

Moves price down ↓

↓
Switching from 18k to 14k yellow gold for both pendant and chain
↓
Choosing a thinner or shorter chain than the 18-inch 1.3mm cable used here
↓
Omitting the engraving entirely
↓
Selecting gold-plated silver instead of solid gold for a similar look at lower material cost
↓
Simplifying the open-frame design to a solid disc silhouette, which reduces cutting complexity

Questions people ask

Can you put a private message on the back of a pendant that no one else can see?

Yes, back engraving is a standard option on most pendants with a flat or lightly curved reverse surface. The message is only visible when the pendant is turned over or removed, so it stays private during everyday wear. Font style, line breaks, and small symbols like a heart can usually be accommodated, though very long messages may need a smaller font size to fit. A proof is typically shared before production so the wording and layout can be confirmed.

How durable is an 18k gold pendant for daily wear?

18k gold is 75% pure gold, which makes it softer than 14k but still durable enough for a pendant that isn't subject to the daily friction a ring experiences. An open-frame design like this one has thin sections at the mountain peaks and frame edges, so it should be handled with reasonable care to avoid bending. With normal daily wear and occasional gentle cleaning, an 18k gold pendant like this will hold its shape and color for decades without plating loss, since it is solid gold rather than plated.

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

18k gold contains 75% pure gold compared to 14k's 58.3%, giving it a richer, warmer yellow color and a higher raw material cost. 14k is harder and slightly more scratch-resistant because of its higher alloy content, which can be an advantage for pieces that see more contact. For a pendant that isn't handled as roughly as a ring, either karat performs well, and the choice mostly comes down to color preference and budget.

What does a custom gold pendant with engraving typically cost?

A pendant like this one, cast in 18k yellow gold with a moderate amount of open-frame detail and a personalized engraving, falls in the mid range for custom pendant work. The gold karat and weight account for most of the cost, with the engraving itself adding comparatively little. Choosing a lower gold karat or a plated metal instead of solid gold are the biggest levers for bringing the cost down.

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

From design approval to shipping, a piece like this typically takes around five to six weeks. The first stage covers the wax model and a resin preview sent to the client for a visual check before any metal is cast. Casting, polishing, finishing, and engraving make up the remaining production time, with engraving done last so the lettering sits cleanly on a fully finished surface.

Can the mountain design be made in white gold or silver instead?

Yes, an open-frame silhouette like this one translates well to other metals. White gold would give a cooler, brighter tone with the same lightweight open construction, and sterling silver or gold-plated silver would achieve a similar look at a different price point. The matte-and-polish contrast between the peaks and the ground plane can be recreated in any of these metals.

Can you add a stone to the design, like for the sun?

Yes, a small stone can often be set where a solid design element like the sun or moon disc currently sits, though this requires a small setting to be built into that area of the design during modeling rather than added afterward. A small diamond, sapphire, or other durable stone would work well in that position. This does add a modest amount to the cost since it requires a stone-setting step that a solid metal disc does not.

Is the chain included or does it need to be purchased separately?

Chains are typically sold as part of the total piece rather than separately, and the length and gauge are chosen to suit the pendant's size and weight. An 18-inch cable chain in a fine gauge, like 1.3mm, works well for a pendant of this scale without overwhelming it. Thicker or longer chains are available at an additional cost if a different look or fit is preferred.