Home Get Inspired Pendants Onitsha Nobility Pendant in 10k Yellow Gold

A dimensional, elongated teardrop-shaped 10k yellow gold pendant with openwork crescent cut-outs and a textured triangular border pattern, hanging point-down from a thin gold chain.

Onitsha Nobility Pendant in 10k Yellow Gold

10k yellow gold

C. came to us wanting a pendant that represented the nobility of the Onitsha kingdom, working from a reference photo he provided. He approved the first render without changes, calling it great, and switched from a gold-plated silver budget to solid 10k gold once he learned the price difference was small — picking the option that wouldn't wear down over time. When it arrived, he wrote simply: 'it came out great!'

'This looks great!' — on seeing the first render

'yes it was I got it last week... it came out great!' — on delivery

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For himself Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 10k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Cultural heritage Cut out Engraved Symbolic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch (25mm) in length, point-down orientation. Chain is client's own.

How they made it distinctive

01
Point-down orientation specifically requested to match the client's vision of how the symbol should hang
02
Pierced cut-out pattern cut down the center so light passes through the open sections
03
Diamond-cut textured border added along both edges for extra sparkle against the polished surface
04
Solid 10k gold chosen over gold-plated silver so the finish won't wear thin with daily contact
05
Design based directly on a cultural reference photo representing Onitsha kingdom nobility

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is 10k yellow gold — a new commission could use 14k, 18k, or a different tone like white or rose gold

Stone: this piece has no stone — a new piece could incorporate a small accent stone into the open cut-out areas

Size: this piece is about 1 inch — a new commission can be sized larger or smaller to the wearer's preference

Pattern density: the pierced cut-out pattern can be made more open or more subtle on a new design

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

Design changes made

The piece moved from the originally planned gold-plated silver to solid 10k yellow gold after the design was approved, once the client learned the cost difference between the two was minor. The design itself matched the approved render without changes.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a personal symbol of heritage or identity rendered as a wearable, everyday pendant rather than a large statement piece. It's especially right if you have a specific cultural or family reference image in mind and want it translated faithfully into a durable, solid-metal piece you can wear for years without worrying about plating wearing off.

How it's made

Once the pendant's 3D design was approved, a wax model was printed directly from the digital file and attached to a wax tree inside a casting flask. The flask was placed in a kiln to burn out the wax entirely, leaving a precise hollow mold in its place. Molten 10k yellow gold was then poured into that mold, and once cooled, the raw casting was broken out and separated from the tree. After casting, the pendant was cleaned to remove investment residue, then moved through polishing to bring out the high-shine finish visible on the raised surfaces. The pierced cut-out sections were cleared and refined by hand so light could pass through the open pattern, and the diamond-cut textured border along both edges was cut in as a final detail to add sparkle against the smooth polished background.

Key note

The pendant was switched from gold-plated silver to solid 10k gold after the 3D render stage, which meant the final metal weight and casting plan were set only once that material decision was confirmed.

Pricing guidance

A solid 10k gold pendant of this size and pierced-pattern complexity sits toward the lower end of the price spectrum for custom pendants, since the piece is compact and uses a modest amount of metal. Most of the cost comes from the 3D design work and the hand-finishing needed on the pierced cut-out and textured border rather than from the metal itself. Choosing a higher karat or a larger size would move the price up from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 10k to 14k or 18k yellow gold
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond roughly 1 inch, which adds more metal and finishing time
↑
Adding a gemstone accent into the design
↑
Choosing a two-tone or oxidized finish that requires additional finishing steps

Moves price down ↓

↓
Choosing gold-plated silver instead of solid gold
↓
Simplifying the pierced cut-out pattern to reduce hand-finishing time
↓
Reducing the pendant size
↓
Omitting the textured diamond-cut border along the edges

Questions people ask

What does a custom symbolic pendant like this usually cost?

A compact custom pendant with a pierced pattern and textured border, cast in solid 10k gold, typically falls toward the lower end of the custom pendant price range. The main cost driver is the design and hand-finishing work on the cut-out and textured details, not the amount of metal used, since the piece is small. Choosing a higher karat gold or increasing the size would raise the price from there. Gold-plated silver is usually available as a lower-cost alternative for the same design.

Is 10k gold durable enough for a pendant worn every day?

Yes, 10k gold is actually the most durable of the common gold karats because it contains a higher percentage of alloy metals mixed with the gold. It resists scratching and denting better than 14k or 18k gold, making it a practical choice for daily wear. Unlike gold-plated silver, solid 10k gold will not wear thin or reveal a different metal underneath over time. The tradeoff is a slightly less rich yellow color compared to higher karat golds.

What's the difference between solid gold and gold-plated silver for a pendant like this?

Solid gold, even at 10k, is gold all the way through, so the color and finish stay consistent for the life of the piece. Gold-plated silver is a sterling silver base piece with a thin layer of gold applied over the surface, which can wear away over years of contact with skin and clothing, especially on raised or textured areas. Gold-plated silver costs less upfront, which is why many clients consider it for budget reasons. For a piece intended to be worn daily for years, solid gold avoids the need for re-plating down the road.

Can you turn a cultural or heritage symbol into a custom pendant?

Yes, a reference photo and a description of the symbol's meaning are enough for a design team to translate it into a wearable pendant design. The process usually starts with a 3D digital render based on the photo and description, which the client reviews and approves before any metal is cast. Fine details like pierced cut-out sections or textured borders can be added to reflect the original symbol's pattern. This approach works for family crests, cultural emblems, and other meaningful symbols beyond standard jewelry motifs.

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

The design phase, including the 3D render and any adjustments, typically takes about a week. Once the design is approved and paid for, production generally takes around four to five weeks, covering wax printing, casting, cleaning, and finishing. The exact timeline can shift slightly if a material change is requested after the design is approved. Most clients receive a finished piece within five to six weeks of their initial deposit.

Can the pierced cut-out pattern on a pendant like this be changed?

Yes, the density and shape of a pierced cut-out pattern can be adjusted on a new commission to make it more open or more subtle depending on preference. A denser pattern with more open sections generally takes more hand-finishing time, while a simpler pattern is quicker to produce. The pattern can also be adapted to represent a different symbol or design entirely, using the same pierced technique. This technique works well on pendants of similar size and shape to this one.

Can I attach a pendant like this to my own chain?

Yes, this type of pendant is designed to hang from a standard bail that fits most chain styles, and it's common for clients to use a chain they already own. The bail opening size should be checked against the chain's link thickness to make sure it slides on smoothly. If a client wants a new chain included, that can be sourced separately in a matching or contrasting metal. The pendant itself is designed independently of the chain, so swapping chains later is straightforward.