Home Get Inspired Pendants Name Pendant — ‘Cat’ in Lab Diamonds on Silver Disc

A round sterling silver pendant with a polished edge and matte-finished face, the word 'Cat' spelled out in small pave-set diamonds in a serif font, hanging from a silver cable chain.

Name Pendant — 'Cat' in Lab Diamonds on Silver Disc

Sterling silver, lab diamonds

A client wanted a simple round pendant that spelled out a specific name in diamonds, sized to fit a quarter and finished so the lettering would stand out clearly against the metal. She chose lab diamonds and a matte background to make the word read cleanly, and the piece came together largely as planned from the first render. When it arrived, she wrote that she loved it and couldn't wait to give it to her friend, Cat.

'I love it! And I agree with the Matte finish.' — on seeing the first render

'Yes I love it! I can't wait to give it to my friend Cat.' — on delivery

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

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Lab diamond

Accent Stones

None

Style

Letter initial Matte finish Word text

Design Complexity

Simple

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant diameter approximately 25mm (quarter-sized). Chain 1.5mm cable, 20in length.

How they made it distinctive

01
Word spelled entirely in individually set round lab diamonds rather than engraved or printed text
02
Matte background chosen specifically to make the diamond lettering easier to read at a glance
03
Pendant sized to a quarter's diameter after discussion, balancing legibility against overall scale
04
Serif font selected for a clean, classic look rather than a stylized script
05
Made as a gift for a friend rather than for personal or family sentiment, keeping the design simple and direct

How you'd make it yours

Stone: this piece uses lab diamonds; a new commission could use moissanite for a similar look at lower cost, or natural diamonds for a different material story

Metal: this piece is sterling silver; the same lettering style works in 14k or 18k gold for a warmer tone

Word or name: this piece spells a short name; a new piece could spell any word or name that fits legibly at a similar scale

Finish: this piece uses a matte background with a polished edge; a new commission could use a fully polished or brushed finish instead

Chain: this piece uses a 20-inch silver cable chain; length and gauge can be changed on a new piece

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 background was changed to a matte finish after the first render, at the recommendation of the design team, so the diamond lettering would stand out more clearly against the metal. The overall size was adjusted twice during early discussion, settling on a quarter-sized diameter to keep the text legible.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a gift that says something specific and personal without being complicated — a name or word spelled out plainly rather than hidden in a symbol. It's especially right for anyone looking for a straightforward, legible keepsake gift for a friend or loved one that reads clearly at a glance.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, a 3D-printed wax model of the pendant was produced and attached to a wax tree inside a casting flask. The flask was placed in a kiln, where the wax was burned out to leave a hollow mold in its place. Molten sterling silver was then poured into the mold under pressure, producing the raw pendant, which was cleaned and extracted once cooled. After casting, the polished edge of the disc was finished to a mirror shine while the flat face was given a matte finish, a deliberate contrast chosen so the diamond-set lettering would read clearly against the background. The round lab diamonds forming the word were then set by hand into the serif letterforms, followed by final polishing and chain assembly.

Key note

The matte background isn't a default finish choice — it was selected specifically because a polished surface would have made the diamond lettering harder to read at a glance.

Pricing guidance

A simple word pendant in silver with lab diamonds set into the lettering sits toward the lower end of the mid range for custom diamond pieces. Most of the baseline cost comes from the diamond setting work required to form legible letters stone by stone, rather than from the metal itself. Stone choice and pendant size are what move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Switching from lab diamonds to natural diamonds for the lettering
↑
Upgrading the base metal from sterling silver to 14k or 18k gold
↑
Increasing the pendant diameter beyond a quarter size to fit a longer word
↑
Adding a second word or line of text on the reverse side
↑
Using a more elaborate script font that requires more individually set stones

Moves price down ↓

↓
Switching from lab diamonds to moissanite for the lettering
↓
Shortening the word or name to fewer letters
↓
Reducing the pendant diameter
↓
Using a plain polished finish instead of a contrasting matte background
↓
Choosing a thinner chain gauge

Questions people ask

Can you make a name pendant with diamonds spelling out a word?

Yes. A pendant like this is made by setting individual round diamonds directly into the letterforms of a word, so the text itself is formed entirely from stones rather than engraved or printed. The font needs to be legible enough at small scale to hold the stones securely, which is why a clean serif or block font tends to work better than an elaborate script. The pendant size has to be large enough to accommodate the full word clearly, which is a key sizing consideration during design.

What's the difference between lab diamonds and moissanite for something like this?

Lab diamonds and natural diamonds share the same chemical composition and hardness, rating a 10 on the Mohs scale, making them extremely durable for everyday wear. Moissanite is a different mineral entirely — slightly less hard at around 9.25 on the Mohs scale, but still very durable and more affordable than lab diamonds. Visually, moissanite can show slightly more fire or rainbow flash in direct light compared to a diamond's whiter sparkle. Both are good choices for a pendant like this; the decision typically comes down to budget and personal preference for how the stones sparkle.

Why is the background of this pendant matte instead of polished?

A matte finish on the background was chosen specifically to improve legibility of the diamond-set lettering. A fully polished surface reflects light in a way that can compete visually with the sparkle of the stones, making the word harder to read at a glance. The matte finish subdues the background so the eye goes straight to the diamond letters. This is a common finishing choice on word and name pendants where readability matters as much as sparkle.

What does a custom diamond name pendant like this typically cost?

A silver pendant with a short word spelled out in lab-grown diamonds falls toward the lower end of the mid-range for custom diamond jewelry. The main cost driver is the labor involved in setting many small stones individually into letterforms, rather than the metal, which is a relatively minor part of the total. Stone choice has the single biggest impact on price — switching between lab diamonds, moissanite, and natural diamonds can shift the cost meaningfully. The length of the word also matters, since more letters mean more individually set stones.

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

The full process typically runs about four to six weeks from approved design to delivery. The first week or so covers the sketch, 3D model, and photorealistic render for approval. Once approved, production — wax modeling, casting, and hand-setting the stones — takes roughly three to four additional weeks. A resin preview of the piece is often shared partway through production so the client can see the design taking shape before the metal is cast.

Can the chain length or style be changed on a pendant like this?

Yes, chain length and style are easily adjusted to the wearer's preference. A classic 1.5mm cable chain is a common default for this type of pendant because it's lightweight and doesn't compete visually with the pendant itself, but thicker gauges or different chain styles are available. Chain length is typically chosen based on how low the wearer wants the pendant to sit — 18 to 20 inches is a common range for a pendant of this size. If a client already owns a chain, the bail on the pendant can be sized to fit it.

Can a pendant like this be made bigger or with a different word?

Yes, both the word and the pendant size are fully flexible on a new commission. The main constraint is legibility — a longer word requires either a larger pendant diameter or a more compact font to keep each letter readable when set with stones. A single short name or word, like the one on this piece, allows for a smaller, more wearable size, roughly the diameter of a quarter.