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Sculptural Sun Face Pendant in Sterling Silver

Sterling silver

A client came to us wanting a sun-face pendant with a specific ray pattern in mind, working from a reference image of a piece he wanted to match. Over two rounds of revisions he refined the ray shapes — first removing small dots he didn't want, then adjusting the rays from rounded to a straight-curved-straight pattern until the silhouette read as pointed and sharp. When the finished piece arrived, he wrote simply: 'Looks perfect. Thank you very much.'

'Nice now it looks perfect. Approved.' — on design approval

'Looks perfect. Thank you very much.' — on delivery

Start your project

For himself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

3D Celestial starburst Engraved Sun Symbolic Word text

Design Complexity

Complex

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant 47mm diameter. Ring/bail loop at top only, oriented for chain use.

How they made it distinctive

01
Ray pattern alternates straight-curved-straight around the full circumference, refined over two rounds of client feedback for a specific pointed silhouette
02
Sculpted 3D face with defined eyes and closed mouth, rather than a flat or engraved sun-face motif
03
Designed with only a top ring rather than a full bail, specifically so it could attach to the client's own existing chain
04
Back engraved with a short personal location phrase, keeping the front design uninterrupted
05
Cast at 47mm, giving it a substantial dimensional presence rather than reading as a delicate accent piece

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is sterling silver; a new commission could use platinum or gold for a similar bright white or warm look at a different cost

Ray shape: this piece uses an alternating straight-curved-straight pattern; a new piece could use fully rounded, fully pointed, or a different rhythm entirely

Face detail: this piece has a sculpted 3D face with open eyes; a new commission could use a simpler engraved or more abstract face

Engraving: the back of this piece carries a short place-name phrase; a new piece could carry a different word, date, or phrase

Size: this piece is 47mm; a new commission is sized to the wearer's own preference and chain

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

Design changes made

The first render included small dots along the rays' edges (reflections in the reference image) and rounded ray tips; these were removed and reshaped into an alternating straight-curved-straight pattern with sharper points after two rounds of client feedback.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone drawn to bold, mythic imagery who wants a pendant with real physical presence rather than a delicate accent. It's especially right if you already have a chain you love and just want a striking centerpiece to put on it, or if you have a specific reference image in mind and want to work through the details until it's right.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the team built a 3D CAD model and printed a wax version on a 3D printer. That wax model was attached to a wax tree, invested in plaster inside a flask, and fired in a kiln to burn out the wax and leave a hollow mold. Molten sterling silver was then cast into the mold, producing the raw pendant ready for finishing. After casting, the piece was extracted from the mold, cleaned, and hand-finished to smooth the transition between the sculpted face and the surrounding rays. The rays were polished to a bright mirror finish, which sharpened their pointed profile compared to the duller wax and 3D model previews. The back of the pendant was then engraved with the client's requested location text as a final finishing step before the top ring was confirmed and the piece was prepared for shipping.

Key note

The rays look noticeably more pointed and sharp in the finished polished silver than they did in the gray 3D model, because the model's dull surface visually rounds off edges that read as sharp once mirror-polished.

Pricing guidance

A dimensional sculptural pendant like this, cast in sterling silver at 47mm, sits toward the upper end of pricing for silver pendants because of the amount of hand-finishing a multi-ray, sculpted-face design requires. Most of the cost comes from labor rather than material, since sterling silver itself is a relatively low-cost metal. Complexity of the ray pattern and the level of finishing on the face are the biggest levers on price within this category.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from sterling silver to platinum or 14k/18k gold for the same design
↑
Adding gemstone eyes or stone accents on the face or rays
↑
Increasing the pendant diameter beyond 47mm, which adds metal weight and finishing time
↑
Engraving on both sides rather than a single back inscription
↑
Requesting a fully matched bail/chain set made in-house rather than using the client's own chain

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the number or complexity of the rays (fewer points, simpler curves)
↓
Choosing a smaller pendant diameter
↓
Leaving the back unengraved
↓
Simplifying the face detail to a more abstract or flat design rather than a sculpted 3D face
↓
Omitting the ring/bail entirely if the piece will be display-only rather than worn

Questions people ask

Is this pendant real platinum or silver?

This particular piece is cast in sterling silver, though the client originally considered platinum before switching. Sterling silver is a .925 alloy — durable, bright white, and significantly more affordable than platinum for a piece of this size and complexity. Platinum would give a similar bright white look but weighs more and costs several times as much for an equivalent design. Sterling silver is a common and practical choice for large sculptural pendants like this one.

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

This pendant took about six weeks from deposit to delivery, which is typical for a custom design with this level of dimensional detail. The process starts with a sketch and 3D render for approval, generally taking about a week, followed by casting and hand-finishing that runs another four to five weeks. Complex sculptural pieces with fine surface detail, like alternating ray shapes or a sculpted face, can take slightly longer than a simple flat pendant because of the additional finishing work.

Can you recreate a design from a reference photo?

Yes, this pendant was designed by matching a reference image the client provided, and it went through two rounds of revision to get the ray shapes exactly right. It's worth knowing upfront that an exact 100 percent match usually isn't possible without the original piece in hand, since different jewelers use different techniques and proportions. What is realistic is getting very close through iterative 3D renders, where you can flag specific details — ray shape, spacing, curve versus straight edges — until it matches what you have in mind.

Can a pendant like this be engraved on the back?

Yes, back engraving is a common addition to a solid sculptural pendant like this one, since the flat or gently curved reverse side provides a clean surface for text. Short phrases, initials, or place names are all straightforward to include. The engraving is typically done as one of the final finishing steps after casting and polishing, so it doesn't affect the front design in any way.

Does sterling silver tarnish, and how do I take care of it?

Sterling silver can tarnish over time with air exposure, especially with a design that has a lot of surface texture and recessed detail like sculpted rays. Regular wear actually helps somewhat, since the friction from clothing keeps some tarnish at bay, but periodic polishing with a silver cloth will keep the bright finish looking its best. Avoiding exposure to chlorine, perfume, and harsh chemicals will also slow tarnishing. For a piece with this much dimensional detail, an occasional professional polish can restore the deep contrast between the raised and recessed areas.

What does a custom sculptural pendant like this typically cost?

A dimensional sun-face pendant of this size and complexity in sterling silver typically falls in the mid range for custom pendant work. The price is driven mainly by the hand-finishing labor required for a multi-part sculptural design rather than by the metal cost, since silver itself is inexpensive relative to gold or platinum. Choosing a more elaborate ray pattern, larger size, or upgrading the metal are the factors that would move the price up from there.

Can I attach this pendant to a chain I already own?

Yes, this pendant was specifically designed with just a top ring rather than a full bail, so it could be attached to the client's own existing chain. This is a common request when someone already has a chain they like and doesn't want or need a new one included with the pendant. It's important to confirm the ring opening is sized to fit your specific chain's thickness before the piece is cast, since bail and ring openings are sized during the design phase, not after.