Home Get Inspired Pendants Sand Dollar Pendant with Peridot in Sterling Silver

A sterling silver pendant shaped like an organic, irregular disc with a beaded edge, engraved with a five-petal sand dollar star pattern and a round green peridot bezel-set at the center, hanging on a silver cable chain.

Sand Dollar Pendant with Peridot in Sterling Silver

Sterling silver, peridot

A client wanted a sand dollar pendant that captured a beach memory in a wearable, everyday piece. He sent a reference image with colored stones marking the sand dollar's natural markings and asked for the same layout using engraved lines instead of stones, with a single peridot at the center. The result is a coin-shaped silver pendant with an engraved star pattern on both sides and a bright green peridot set exactly where he pictured it.

'This looks amazing thank you!' — on seeing the first render

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For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Peridot

Accent Stones

None

Style

Coin medallion Organic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant approximately 1in (25mm) diameter; stone 5.5mm round (0.75ct). Chain 16in, 1.5mm cable link.

How they made it distinctive

01
Engraved star pattern on both front and back — replicates the client's reference image using line work instead of embedded stones
02
Organic, irregular coin-like outline chosen deliberately to mimic a real sand dollar's natural shape
03
Peridot placed and sized to match the client's specific reference (0.75ct, 5.5mm) rather than a standard stock size
04
Bezel setting selected for the center stone, offering secure, snag-free protection suited to daily wear
05
Beaded milgrain edge added around the perimeter to frame the organic silhouette

How you'd make it yours

Stone: this piece uses a 5.5mm round peridot; a new commission could use a different colored gem or a larger stone for a bolder look

Metal: this piece is sterling silver; the same engraved design works in gold-plated silver or solid gold for a warmer tone

Outline: this piece has an organic, irregular coin shape; a new piece could use a perfectly round or more geometric outline instead

Engraving: the radiating line pattern can be adjusted in density or replaced with a different motif on a new piece

Chain: this piece pairs with a 16-inch 1.5mm cable chain; a new commission could use a different length or link style

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 initial rough sketch didn't include the sand dollar's signature surface markings. After reviewing it, the client asked for the star-shaped pattern to be engraved into the design (using lines rather than stones) to better resemble the natural sand dollar texture, and that detail was added to the final render.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a nature motif rendered with restraint rather than realism — a design that reads as a sand dollar without being literal. It suits anyone who wants a pendant they can wear daily without worrying about a stone catching or falling out, thanks to the bezel setting.

How it's made

Once the engraved design was approved, the team built a 3D digital model and printed a resin version on-site to confirm the layout before committing to metal. The resin was invested in plaster and fired in a kiln to burn out the pattern, leaving a hollow mold. Molten sterling silver was then cast into that mold, producing the raw pendant blank ready for finishing. After casting, the pendant was cleaned up and its irregular, coin-like edge was refined, with a fine beaded (milgrain) border finished along the rim. The sand-dollar star pattern was engraved into both the front and back faces of the disc so the motif reads from either side. Finally, the round peridot was bezel-set at the center of the front face, with the metal rim burnished down around the stone to hold it securely for everyday wear.

Key note

The star pattern is engraved on both the front and back faces of the pendant, so the sand-dollar motif is visible even when the piece flips over on the chain.

Pricing guidance

A silver pendant of this size and engraving detail sits toward the lower end of the price spectrum for custom pendant work, with the chain adding a modest amount on top. Most of the cost comes from the 3D design work and the hand-finishing of the engraved surface and bezel setting rather than the metal itself. Stone size and metal choice are what move the price most from this baseline.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading the metal from sterling silver to 14k gold or gold-plated silver
↑
Increasing the peridot size beyond 5.5mm or adding accent stones around it
↑
Adding cut-out sections to the design rather than a solid engraved disc
↑
Choosing a wider or more elaborate chain style instead of a standard 1.5mm cable

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant size below 1 inch
↓
Simplifying the engraving to fewer lines or a plainer border
↓
Omitting the chain and using an existing one
↓
Choosing a smaller center stone or a lower-cost stone alternative to peridot

Questions people ask

Is peridot durable enough for a pendant you wear every day?

Peridot rates about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is durable enough for daily pendant wear as long as it isn't knocked against hard surfaces repeatedly. Because a pendant hangs away from the hands, it faces less impact risk than a ring stone would. A bezel setting, like the one used here, wraps metal fully around the stone's edge and offers more protection than a prong setting. With normal care, a bezel-set peridot pendant should hold up well for years of regular wear.

What's the difference between sterling silver and silver-plated jewelry?

Sterling silver is a solid alloy that is 92.5% pure silver throughout the entire piece, which is why it's often marked '925.' Silver-plated jewelry has a thin layer of silver over a different base metal, and that layer can wear through over time to reveal the metal underneath. A solid sterling silver pendant like this one will tarnish naturally with air exposure but can be polished back to its original shine repeatedly, since the silver runs all the way through. Occasional polishing with a silver cloth is typically all that's needed to maintain the finish.

Can you engrave a design into a pendant instead of using cut-out sections?

Yes, engraving lines directly into the metal surface is a common alternative to cutting sections out of the piece. It creates a similar visual pattern while keeping the pendant a single solid piece, which is generally sturdier for everyday wear than an open cut-out design. Engraved detail also allows the pattern to be replicated on both the front and back of a piece, which isn't possible with a cut-out. The trade-off is that engraved lines read as texture rather than the more dramatic light-and-shadow effect a cut-out can create.

How much does a custom silver pendant with a gemstone typically cost?

A silver pendant in this size range, with a single center stone and hand-engraved detailing, generally falls toward the lower end of custom jewelry pricing. The primary cost drivers are the design and modeling work plus the labor for engraving and stone setting, rather than the silver itself. Adding a chain, increasing the stone size, or upgrading the metal to gold will move the price upward from that baseline. Because every piece is designed individually, final pricing depends on the specific combination of size, stone, and metal chosen.

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

The design phase typically takes about a week, during which a 3D render is created and refined based on feedback before anything is cast. Once the design is approved, production generally takes another three to five weeks, covering the wax/resin model, casting, finishing, and stone setting. A resin sample is sometimes shared partway through so the client can see the piece's exact form before it's cast in metal. Altogether, most custom pendants like this are completed within five to six weeks from the initial deposit.

Can a bezel setting be used with other stone shapes besides round?

Yes, bezel settings work with nearly any stone shape, including oval, pear, and marquise cuts, not just round stones. The metal rim is simply shaped to follow the outline of whichever stone is chosen. A round bezel, like the one on this pendant, is one of the more straightforward shapes to fabricate and tends to sit flush and symmetrical within a circular design. Changing to a fancier stone shape would mainly affect the setting's silhouette rather than its durability.

Can the pendant shape be made more symmetrical or perfectly round instead of organic and irregular?

Yes, the coin-like outline can be adjusted to a perfectly round or more uniform shape if that's preferred over the organic, slightly irregular edge used here. The irregular outline in this design was a deliberate choice to mimic the natural, non-uniform shape of a real sand dollar shell. A more geometric outline would shift the piece toward a cleaner, more modern coin-pendant look rather than the nature-inspired feel of this version. Either approach works with the same engraving and bezel-setting techniques.

What size chain works best with a pendant like this?

For a pendant around 1 inch in diameter, a 16 to 18 inch chain is a common choice, sitting at or just below the collarbone. A 1.5mm cable chain, like the one paired with this pendant, is a classic, versatile width that suits a range of necklines without overpowering the pendant itself. Thicker chains can work for a bolder look, but a delicate cable chain keeps the focus on the pendant's engraved detail. The right length ultimately comes down to personal preference and how the wearer likes a pendant to sit.