Home Get Inspired Pendants Panther & Fist Coin Pendant in 14K Gold with Black Rhodium

A round coin-style pendant in polished yellow gold featuring a dimensional clenched fist and a panther head rendered in black rhodium plating, hanging from a cable chain against a dark stone background.

Panther & Fist Coin Pendant in 14K Gold with Black Rhodium

Gold-plated sterling silver, black rhodium plating

A.D. wanted a meaningful personal symbol turned into a wearable pendant — a panther curled protectively around a raised fist, cast as a dimensional coin-style piece rather than a flat engraving. He compared a 3D option against an engraved alternative before deciding the dimensional version captured the design best. When he gifted the finished piece, he wrote that the recipient was moved to tears over it.

'Very Impressive! I like the overall look of it.' — on seeing the first 3D render

'The pendant is absolutely stunning, it looks exactly like the original image that I sent you, and the panther looks absolutely amazing! When I gifted this piece a short time ago, the individual who received it was literally in tears over how beautiful it looks.' — on delivery

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Christmas Daily wear A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Gold plated silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

3D Animals Black Rhodium Symbolic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 25mm (1in) diameter. Chain: 1.5mm cable, 20in length.

How they made it distinctive

01
3D dimensional casting chosen over flat engraving specifically so the panther and fist read with real depth and texture
02
Black rhodium plating applied selectively only to the panther figure, creating contrast against the polished gold fist and border
03
Circular coin-style format chosen deliberately to let the panther's curled pose wrap naturally around the center
04
Client compared a 3D sample against an engraved sample before confirming the dimensional direction was the stronger choice
05
Finished piece was gifted and drew an emotional reaction from the recipient

How you'd make it yours

Design technique: this piece uses 3D dimensional casting; a new commission could use flat engraving instead for a different visual effect

Metal: this piece is gold-plated sterling silver; the same symbolic design works in solid 14k or 18k gold

Plating: this piece uses black rhodium on the panther only; a new piece could apply it more broadly or omit it for a single-tone look

Size: this piece is sized at 1 inch; a new commission is sized to the wearer's own preference

Chain: this piece uses a 1.5mm cable chain; a new piece could use a heavier rope chain or a different length

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

Design changes made

The client considered switching from the 3D dimensional design to a flat engraved version partway through, but after comparing an example of each, he confirmed the original 3D direction captured the design better and stayed with it.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who has a specific personal symbol in mind and wants it rendered with real dimension rather than a flat engraving. It's especially right for anyone considering a meaningful piece as a gift — one where the symbolism itself, not just the craftsmanship, is the point.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the pendant model was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask was placed in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten 14k gold-plated sterling silver was cast into that mold. After cooling, the raw piece was removed from the mold and prepared for finishing — cleaning, polishing, and detail work. The panther figure was finished separately from the surrounding disc and fist: the panther received a black rhodium plating application for contrast, while the fist and coin-style border were brought to a high polish. The bail was stamped with the 925 silver mark before the piece was strung on its cable chain.

Key note

The black rhodium is applied only to the panther figure, not the whole piece, so the plated and unplated gold surfaces read as two distinct zones on a single casting.

Pricing guidance

A one-inch 3D coin-style pendant in gold-plated sterling silver with selective black rhodium plating sits at the lower end of the price range for custom pendant work. Most of the baseline cost comes from the dimensional 3D modeling and the two-step finishing process rather than the metal itself. Size and plating choices are what move the price most from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Increasing the pendant size from 1 inch to 1.5 inches or larger
↑
Upgrading from gold-plated silver to solid 14k or 18k gold
↑
Adding black rhodium plating to additional design elements beyond the central figure
↑
Choosing a heavier-gauge chain or upgrading to a rope chain instead of cable
↑
Adding engraving on the reverse side of the pendant

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant to a smaller size such as 0.75 inch
↓
Choosing an engraved flat design instead of a 3D dimensional one
↓
Omitting the black rhodium plating and leaving the piece in a single gold tone
↓
Choosing a thinner, lighter-weight chain
↓
Skipping the chain and providing one separately

Questions people ask

How durable is black rhodium plating on a pendant like this?

Black rhodium is a surface plating applied over the base metal, not a solid material throughout the piece. It gives a deep matte-black finish but will gradually wear with daily contact, especially on edges and raised details that rub against skin or clothing. Most wearers see one to two years of good wear before any fading becomes noticeable. Re-plating is a standard service most jewelers can perform when that happens.

What's the difference between a 3D pendant and an engraved one?

A 3D pendant is modeled and cast with raised, dimensional detail, so the design has actual depth and texture you can feel, similar to a coin or medallion. An engraved pendant starts as a flat, smooth piece, with the design cut into the surface afterward. The 3D option generally shows detail more clearly and holds up better to black rhodium or other plating because the plating has distinct raised surfaces to define, while engraving is applied after casting and can't be previewed in a render. Both are valid choices and come down to the look the wearer prefers.

What does a custom gold-plated silver pendant like this typically cost?

A one-inch 3D pendant in gold-plated sterling silver with selective black rhodium plating sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. The main cost driver is the 3D modeling and the two-stage finishing process, not the metal itself, since gold-plated silver is one of the more accessible base materials. Size changes and plating choices are what shift the price most from that baseline.

How long does it take to make a custom pendant from start to finish?

The design phase — from deposit to an approved 3D render — typically takes one to two weeks, though it can move faster with quick client feedback. Once the design is approved and production begins, casting, finishing, and plating usually take three to four weeks. Rush timelines are sometimes possible around specific deadlines like holidays, but they depend on the studio's current workload.

Can gold-plated silver pendants be made in solid gold instead?

Yes, the same design can be produced in solid 14k or 18k gold instead of gold-plated sterling silver. Solid gold does not wear down or require re-plating the way a plated piece eventually will, so it holds its finish longer with daily wear. The trade-off is that solid gold costs more than a plated silver base of the same size and design.

Can you add a chain to a custom pendant order?

Yes, chains are typically offered as an add-on alongside the pendant itself, in a range of styles and lengths. Common options include lightweight cable chains and slightly heavier rope chains, usually in the 18 to 20 inch range for everyday wear. The chain can be ordered in a matching or contrasting metal tone to the pendant.

Is a panther-and-fist design hard to translate into a 3D pendant?

A curled animal figure paired with a separate raised element, like a fist, works well in 3D because the two shapes can be modeled with distinct depths and finishing treatments. The curled pose of the panther in particular suits a circular coin-style format, since the body naturally wraps around the center of the design. The main design consideration is making sure the negative space between the two figures reads clearly once cast, which is why a photorealistic render is shared for approval before production starts.