Home Get Inspired Pendants Radiant Sunburst Cross Pendant in Yellow Gold

A yellow gold cross pendant with a cut-out sunburst halo radiating around its base, suspended from a cable chain against a marble background.

Radiant Sunburst Cross Pendant in Yellow Gold

Sterling silver, 14k gold plating

D. wanted to recreate a cross pendant from a photo as a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, down to the cut-out sunburst detail around the cross. He approved the first render right away, calling it 'perfect,' then asked to scale it down from an inch to three-quarters of an inch so it would sit better. When it arrived he wrote that he couldn't wait to see it on her.

'It's perfect!!!' — on seeing the first render

'Thank you so very much and we can't wait to see it!' — on shipping notification

Start your project

Daily wear Gift for partner 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

Celestial starburst Cross Cut out Religios Symbolic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Just because

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 0.75in (19mm) height, cut-out design. No chain included.

How they made it distinctive

01
Cut-out sunburst construction lets light pass through the rays rather than sitting against a solid backdrop
02
Scaled down from the original 1-inch reference to 0.75 inch specifically to keep the design from feeling oversized
03
Design kept intact rather than simplified when sized down, preserving the full sunburst detail
04
Recreated directly from a reference photo the client provided, rather than built from a verbal description alone
05
Sized to work as a pendant-only piece, letting the wearer choose her own chain

How you'd make it yours

Size: this piece is 0.75 inch — a new commission could go back up to 1 inch or larger for more sunburst detail

Background: this piece is fully cut out — a new design could use a solid background for a sturdier, different look

Metal: this piece is gold-plated sterling silver — the same design works in solid 14k gold or rhodium-plated silver

Engraving: the back of the pendant can carry a new date or initials on a fresh commission

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 pendant was scaled down from the original 1-inch reference to 0.75 inches after the client felt a full inch would be too large; the design was kept intact rather than simplified further to preserve the cut-out detail.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a faith-centered pendant that still has some visual movement to it, not just a plain cross. It's especially right if you're working from a reference photo and want the recreation to feel faithful to that image, and you'd rather size the piece down for comfort than compromise on the detail.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the jewelry 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 under pressure. After cooling, the raw cast pendant was removed from its mold and prepared for finishing. The cast piece was cleaned and polished to bring up a bright finish across both the cross and the surrounding sunburst rays, since the entire design shares a single uniform polish rather than mixed finish zones. The cut-out sections were cleaned of any residual casting material to keep the open areas crisp, and the gold plating was applied last over the finished sterling silver base to achieve the yellow gold color the client requested.

Key note

A resin 3D-printed preview of the piece was shared with the client before casting, letting him see the exact proportions of the scaled-down sunburst ahead of the metal pour.

Pricing guidance

A cut-out pendant of this size and moderate design complexity sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. Most of the cost comes from the 3D modeling and the cut-out casting work rather than from material cost, since gold-plated sterling silver keeps the metal cost modest. Simplifying or adding to the sunburst detail is what would move the price most from here.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Casting in solid 14k or 18k gold rather than gold-plated sterling silver
↑
Increasing the pendant size back toward 1 inch, which requires more metal and more intricate cut-out work
↑
Adding stone accents to the center of the sunburst or cross
↑
Engraving a date or initials on the back of the pendant
↑
Adding a matching chain in the same metal rather than sourcing one separately

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant further below 0.75 inch, which simplifies the cut-out detail
↓
Choosing a solid-background design instead of a cut-out design
↓
Simplifying the sunburst to fewer or shorter rays
↓
Using rhodium-plated silver instead of gold plating
↓
Skipping the resin preview stage for a standard timeline

Questions people ask

Is gold-plated sterling silver durable enough for a cross pendant worn every day?

Gold-plated sterling silver is a solid sterling silver base with a layer of 14k gold applied over the top. The silver underneath is durable and holds its shape well, but the gold plating itself is a surface coating that will gradually wear thinner with daily contact, especially where the pendant rubs against clothing or skin. Most wearers see several years of good color before the plating starts to look dull in high-contact spots. Re-plating is a standard jewelry service when that happens, and it restores the original color without needing to remake the piece.

Can a cut-out pendant like this bend or warp over time?

A cut-out design removes some of the solid metal that would otherwise add rigidity, so a cut-out pendant is generally a little more flexible than a solid one of the same size. At this scale and thickness, normal wear around the neck is unlikely to cause bending, since the open areas are small relative to the surrounding structure. Dropping the piece on a hard surface or applying deliberate pressure is the more realistic risk. Keeping it stored flat rather than crushed in a bag or pocket helps preserve the shape.

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

A pendant of this size and complexity in gold-plated sterling silver sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. The cost is driven mainly by the 3D design work and the precision casting the cut-out detail requires, not by the metal itself, since plated silver keeps material costs down. Moving to solid gold, enlarging the piece, or adding stones would all push the price higher from this baseline.

How long does it take to get a custom pendant made?

A custom pendant like this typically takes about one week for the design phase, where the 3D render is created and refined based on feedback, followed by roughly two to four weeks for production once the design is approved. Production includes 3D printing a wax model, casting the metal, polishing, and plating. Rush timing is sometimes possible for a gift deadline, though it is not guaranteed depending on the studio's schedule at the time.

Can you make this same cross design without the cut-out, on a solid background?

Yes, a solid-background version is a straightforward alternative to a cut-out design. It replaces the open sunburst rays with a flat or lightly textured background behind the cross, which also tends to be slightly sturdier than a fully cut-out piece. The visual effect is different though — the cut-out version lets light pass through the sunburst rays, giving it more movement and dimension than a solid backdrop would.

What's the difference between 14k gold plating and solid 14k gold?

Solid 14k gold is gold alloy all the way through, while 14k gold plating is a thin layer of 14k gold applied over a base metal, in this case sterling silver. Visually they look identical when new, but solid gold will never need re-plating since the color goes all the way through the piece. Gold-plated silver costs significantly less up front, which is why it's a common choice for pendants where budget is a factor, but it does require occasional re-plating over years of wear to maintain its color.

Can this pendant be made bigger again if half an inch feels too small?

Yes, pendant size is one of the more flexible elements of a design like this. A larger version, closer to the original 1-inch size, would allow for more detail in the sunburst rays without needing to simplify the design, since smaller sizes sometimes require slightly less intricate detailing to cast cleanly. The tradeoff is simply how prominent the piece looks and feels on a chain.

Does this pendant come with a chain?

Not by default — pendants like this are commonly ordered on their own so the wearer can pair them with a chain they already own or prefer. A matching chain in the same metal and finish can be added to an order if requested, which keeps the color and finish consistent between the pendant and the chain.