Home Get Inspired Pendants Ophiuchus Zodiac Pendant with Wolf & Moon Back Design

A round sterling-silver-colored pendant on a rope chain, cut-out design showing the Ophiuchus zodiac symbol on the front and a howling wolf silhouette beneath a crescent moon on the reverse side.

Ophiuchus Zodiac Pendant with Wolf & Moon Back Design

14k white gold

A client wanted a personal symbol that isn't part of the standard zodiac — the 13th sign, Ophiuchus — cut into a pendant of her own design. Partway through, she decided the back should carry a howling wolf beneath a crescent moon instead of an initial engraving, and the team reworked the render to match. When she saw the finished design, she wrote back right away: 'Looks great! Let's make it!'

'Let's make it! I love it' — on seeing the first render

'Looks great! Let's make it!' — on reviewing the updated back design

Start your project

Daily wear For herself Make Your Mark Identity expression, Personal symbol / signet

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

White gold 14k

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Animals Crescent moon Cut out Symbolic Wolf Zodiac

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression, Personal symbol / signet

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch (25mm) diameter, rectangular-to-round solid disc.

How they made it distinctive

01
Ophiuchus glyph chosen specifically because it falls outside the standard twelve-sign zodiac and carries personal meaning for the wearer
02
Double-sided cut-out design — the front carries the zodiac glyph while the back was reworked mid-project to a howling wolf and crescent moon
03
Disc cast slightly thicker than originally planned specifically to support cut-out detailing on both faces without weakening the metal
04
Round solid-disc format chosen to give both cut-out designs a clean, consistent frame front and back

How you'd make it yours

Front symbol: this piece uses the Ophiuchus glyph — a new commission could use any zodiac sign, initial, or personal symbol

Back design: this piece uses a howling wolf and crescent moon — a new commission could use a different animal, symbol, or engraving

Metal: this piece is 14k white gold — the same cut-out design language works in yellow or rose gold

Size: this piece is made at approximately one inch — a new commission is sized to the wearer's preference

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 back of the pendant was changed from a paired-initial engraving to a cut-out howling wolf and crescent moon design, after the client decided she preferred a symbol to an initial pairing. The front Ophiuchus design and the round solid-disc format stayed the same throughout.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a symbol that means something specific to them, not a generic zodiac charm off a rack. It's especially right if you identify with something slightly outside the mainstream — a sign, a symbol, or an idea most people haven't heard of — and want it rendered as a clean, graphic design you can wear every day.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the piece moved to a wax model produced on a 3D printer and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold shaped exactly like the pendant. Molten 14k white gold was then cast into that mold, producing the raw disc with both cut-out designs already present as open space in the casting. After casting, the disc was cleaned, and the front and back cut-out areas — the Ophiuchus glyph and the wolf-and-moon design — were hand-finished to open and smooth their edges cleanly. The piece was then polished to its final bright white gold finish, and the bail was fitted to accept the rope chain supplied with the pendant.

Key note

The pendant was cast slightly thicker than originally planned specifically so the second cut-out design on the back could be added without weakening the disc.

Pricing guidance

A moderate-complexity round pendant with cut-out designs on both front and back sits in the mid range for custom pendant work. Most of the cost comes from the dual-sided cut-out detailing, which requires more hand-finishing than a single-sided design, along with the 14k white gold content. Metal karat and the number of cut-out elements are what move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from 14k to 18k white gold increases material cost
↑
Adding a third design element or engraving beyond the two cut-outs already present
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond one inch, which requires more metal and more finishing time
↑
Adding gemstone accents around or within the cut-out designs
↑
Requesting a two-tone finish between the front and back designs

Moves price down ↓

↓
Using a single-sided cut-out design instead of designs on both front and back
↓
Choosing sterling silver or gold-plated silver instead of 14k white gold
↓
Reducing the pendant size to a smaller diameter
↓
Simplifying the cut-out pattern to fewer open details
↓
Omitting the chain and using a chain the client already owns

Questions people ask

What is the Ophiuchus symbol and why would someone put it on a pendant?

Ophiuchus is sometimes called the 13th zodiac sign, representing the serpent-bearer constellation that falls between Scorpio and Sagittarius in the astrological calendar. It isn't part of the standard twelve-sign zodiac most people know, so people who identify with it often want a piece that isn't available off the shelf. A cut-out glyph design like this one renders the symbol as open space cut through a solid metal disc, giving it a clean, graphic look. It works well as a personal or symbolic piece rather than a purely decorative one.

Can you put a different design on the front and back of a pendant?

Yes, a double-sided pendant with different cut-out designs on each face is a common custom option. The main consideration is thickness — a thin disc can struggle to support two sets of open cut-out areas without weakening, so the metal gauge is often increased slightly to compensate. This does add a small amount of extra material cost compared to a single-sided design. The front and back can use completely different motifs, as this piece does with a zodiac glyph on one side and a wolf-and-moon design on the other.

Is 14k white gold durable enough for a pendant worn every day?

Yes, 14k white gold is a standard and durable choice for daily-wear pendants. It's an alloy of gold mixed with other white metals, making it harder than higher-karat gold while still holding a bright, silvery-white color. White gold pendants are typically rhodium-plated at the factory for extra shine, and that plating can wear thin over years of wear and need periodic re-plating. The metal itself, though, holds up well to normal daily use including occasional water or light contact.

What does a custom cut-out pendant like this typically cost?

A round pendant with cut-out detailing on both sides, made in 14k white gold at roughly an inch in diameter, falls in the mid range for custom pendant work. The price is driven mainly by the hand-finishing needed to clean and polish two sets of cut-out edges, plus the cost of the gold itself. Switching to a single-sided design, a lower-karat gold, or sterling silver would all bring the cost down from there.

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

A piece like this typically takes about one week for the design phase, where a sketch becomes a 3D render for approval, followed by four to five weeks of production. Production includes building a wax model, casting the metal, and hand-finishing and polishing the piece. A design change mid-process, like swapping a design element, can add a short delay while the new render is approved. Total turnaround from first approval to delivery is usually around five to six weeks on a standard timeline.

Can a cut-out pendant be resized or changed after it's made?

The pendant itself, once cast with its cut-out designs, cannot be resized the way a ring can — the size and shape of the disc are fixed at casting. The chain length, however, can typically be swapped or adjusted independently of the pendant since it is a separate component. If you want to change the cut-out design itself after the piece is finished, that generally requires remaking the disc rather than modifying the existing one, because the cut-out areas are cast as part of the piece.

What's the difference between a cut-out design and an engraved design on a pendant?

A cut-out design removes metal entirely, creating open space that you can see through — light passes through the gaps, giving a graphic, silhouette-like look. An engraved design, by contrast, cuts a shallow line or texture into the surface of a solid background without removing material all the way through. Cut-out designs tend to read more dramatically from a distance because of the open negative space, while engraving is subtler and keeps the full solid backing intact. This pendant uses the cut-out method on both sides for a bold, consistent look front and back.

Can I use a rope chain with a pendant like this?

Yes, a rope chain is a common pairing for a round disc pendant like this one and was the chain supplied with this piece. The twisted rope design adds some visual texture without competing with the cut-out details on the pendant itself. Chain width matters for how the pendant hangs — a chain that's too thin can look out of proportion with a substantial one-inch disc. Most jewelers can swap the chain independently of the pendant if a different style or length is preferred later.