Home Get Inspired Pendants Nautical Anchor Pendant with Diamond Filigree & Pearl Drop

A round 14k yellow gold pendant with two crossed anchors at the center, a border of small diamonds and filigree detailing, and a teardrop-shaped pearl hanging below, on a gold cable chain.

Nautical Anchor Pendant with Diamond Filigree & Pearl Drop

$$$

14k yellow gold, lab-grown diamonds, pearl

A client returning for a second nautical-themed pendant worked through several rounds of sketches to get the design just right — starting from a ring's filigree pattern as inspiration, adjusting the border from star accents to a diamond pattern, and settling on a round frame with crossed anchors and a pearl drop to match her original piece. She wanted the new pearl matched closely to the shape on her first pendant, and the team sourced a slightly smaller teardrop pearl and added extra jump rings to prevent kinking.

'I love it!' — on seeing the first photorealistic render

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Daily wear For herself Complete the Set Second piece in a series

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 14k

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Lab diamond

Accent Stones

Diamonds

Style

Antique Filigree Nautical Pave

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Complete the Set Second piece in a series

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant disc 3/4 inch (19mm) diameter. Chain 18in cable style.

How they made it distinctive

01
Round frame chosen specifically to echo a ring's filigree pattern the client admired, translated into a circular border
02
Extra jump rings added at the pearl's connection point to prevent kinking, a lesson carried over from her first nautical pendant
03
Single diamonds placed at the top and bottom of the border to read like a sun or star on the horizon, reinforcing the nautical theme
04
Teardrop pearl sourced to closely match the shape of the pearl on her original piece, even at a slightly smaller size
05
Polished finish kept throughout rather than the matte background originally proposed, so the anchors and border stones stand out against a smooth surface

How you'd make it yours

Stone type: this piece uses lab-grown diamonds in the border; a new commission could use natural diamonds for the same look at a different cost

Pearl shape: this piece uses a teardrop pearl; a new commission could use a round pearl or a different drop shape

Metal: this piece is 14k yellow gold; the same anchor-and-filigree design works in white or rose gold

Chain: this piece uses an 18-inch cable chain; a new commission could use a wheat chain or a different length

Border pattern: the scalloped diamond border on this piece could be adjusted to a different filigree or scroll pattern on a new design

One of a kind: this exact pendant was designed for one client as a second piece in her nautical series, and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one

Design changes made

The border design went through multiple iterations — client reviewed several diamond-pattern borders and chose one with a single stone at the top and bottom resembling a sun or star on the horizon, removing an earlier plan for scattered star accents that felt too crowded against the anchors.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone building a personal collection of meaningful pieces around a theme that matters to them, not just picking out one item. It's especially right if you already have a piece you love and want a companion to it, matching its spirit without being an exact copy, and if you care about small wearability details like how a dangling pearl moves over time.

How it's made

Once the design was finalized, a wax model of the pendant was produced using a 3D printer and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was placed in a kiln and the wax burned out, leaving a hollow mold. Molten 14k yellow gold was then poured into the mold, and once cooled, the piece was extracted, cleaned, and polished. The crossed-anchor relief and scalloped border were cleaned up by hand after casting to keep the detail crisp at a 3/4-inch diameter. Small round lab-grown diamonds were set along the sides and top/bottom of the border, and a teardrop pearl was attached beneath the disc on a short link fitted with extra jump rings so it can move freely without kinking. The entire piece was finished in a polished gold rather than the matte background originally proposed, so the anchors and stones read cleanly against the smooth disc.

Key note

Extra jump rings were deliberately added to the pearl's connection point — a small construction detail specifically meant to prevent the kinking that can happen with a single connecting link.

Pricing guidance

A nautical-themed gold pendant with a cast relief design, diamond border accents, and a pearl drop sits in the mid range for pendants of this complexity. Most of the cost comes from the detailed relief casting and hand-finishing of the border pattern, plus the diamond setting. Chain choice and diamond origin are the two biggest variables from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from lab-grown to natural mined diamonds in the border
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Choosing a heavier woven chain style instead of a cable chain
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Increasing the diamond count or size along the border
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Adding more intricate filigree detailing to the scalloped edge
↑
Using a larger or higher-grade pearl drop

Moves price down ↓

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Choosing a shorter or lighter-gauge chain
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Reducing the diamond count along the border
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Omitting the pearl drop for a simpler finished edge
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Selecting a smaller pendant diameter with less relief detail
↓
Using a round pearl instead of a sourced teardrop shape

Questions people ask

Can you make a round pendant with an anchor design and a pearl drop?

Yes, this exact combination — a round disc with a relief anchor motif and a pearl hanging beneath it — is a common nautical-themed design. The anchors are typically cast in relief directly into the disc, and the pearl is attached below on a small connector with extra jump rings to keep it from kinking. Round frames work well for this kind of symmetrical design since the anchors can cross cleanly in the center. The border can be left plain, scalloped, or set with small stones depending on preference.

Are lab-grown diamonds as sparkly as natural diamonds?

Yes, lab-grown and natural diamonds have identical optical properties, so they sparkle exactly the same to the naked eye. The only real differences are origin and price, with lab-grown typically costing less for the same clarity and color grade. For small accent stones like the ones framing a pendant border, there is no visible difference in brilliance. Many clients choose lab-grown specifically because the savings don't come at the cost of appearance.

What does a custom gold pendant with diamonds and a pearl typically cost?

A pendant like this — a cast relief design with a diamond-accented border and a pearl drop — typically falls in the mid range for custom pendant work. The main cost drivers are the detailed casting and hand-finishing required for a raised design plus the labor of setting multiple small stones. Chain style and diamond origin (lab-grown versus natural) are the two factors that move the price most from there.

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

A pendant of this complexity typically takes about one week for the design phase, including sketches and a photorealistic render for approval. Once the design is approved and paid, production runs roughly four to five weeks, covering wax modeling, casting, stone setting, and finishing. Sourcing matched pearls or replacement stones for quality control can occasionally add extra time, so it's worth building in some flexibility around the final week.

Will a teardrop pearl kink or get tangled on a pendant like this?

A single connecting jump ring can sometimes let a dangling pearl twist and kink over time, especially with daily wear. The fix is to add one or two extra jump rings at the connection point, which gives the pearl more range of motion and prevents it from catching in one position. This is a simple construction adjustment that doesn't change the look of the piece but meaningfully improves how it wears day to day. It's a good question to ask about any pendant with a dangling element.

Can a round pendant like this be resized or made smaller?

A round relief pendant has a practical lower size limit determined by how much detail needs to fit — anchors, a border pattern, and diamond accents typically need at least a certain diameter to avoid looking crowded. For a design with this level of detail, roughly 3/4 of an inch is a common minimum for comfortable daily wear and clear detail. Going smaller usually means simplifying the design, such as reducing the border pattern or omitting some stones. It's best to discuss sizing early since it affects how much detail the design can support.

What's the difference between a cable chain and a wheat chain?

A cable chain is made of simple oval or round links connected in a classic open pattern, giving a clean, traditional look. A wheat chain is more tightly woven, with multiple strands twisted together for a denser, more textured appearance. Cable chains are generally lighter and less expensive than wheat chains of the same length and gauge. The choice is mostly aesthetic, though a wheat chain will feel slightly heavier and more substantial around the neck.