Home Get Inspired Pendants St. Luke Medallion Pendant in Gold with Aquamarine Halo

An oval 14k yellow gold pendant with an engraved icon of a robed figure holding a book at the center, surrounded by a halo of round-cut blue aquamarine stones set in prongs, hanging from a gold cable chain.

St. Luke Medallion Pendant in Gold with Aquamarine Halo

$$$

14k yellow gold, natural aquamarine

A mother wanted to mark her daughter's residency graduation with something that connected directly to her new profession. She chose a devotional medallion style and asked for it to be built around a specific patron figure tied to medicine, with aquamarine in place of the traditional clear stones. On delivery she wrote: 'Beautiful! Can't wait to actually see it!'

'Beautiful! Can't wait to actually see it!' — on shipment notification

'Me, too!!!!!' — anticipating delivery

Start your project

Gift for child Graduation Hands-on work A Gift That Says Everything Graduation

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Yellow gold 14k

Shape / Cut

Round

Primary Stone

Aquamarine

Accent Stones

Other

Style

Engraved Halo Medallion style Portrait Religios Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

A Gift That Says Everything Graduation

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1in (25mm) oval. Chain: cable style, moderate width for daily wear.

How they made it distinctive

01
Devotional medallion silhouette borrowed from a well-known traditional pendant style but rebuilt around a different center figure
02
Aquamarine chosen in place of clear stones to give the halo border a personal color connection
03
Patron figure tied directly to medicine, chosen specifically to mark a residency graduation
04
Chain selected to be sturdy but not bulky, with the wearer's hands-on medical work in mind
05
Back engraving added in script font after the client requested a softer lettering style than the initial block sketch

How you'd make it yours

Stone type: this piece uses natural aquamarine; a new commission could use a lab-created aquamarine or a different colored stone for the halo

Metal: this piece is 14k yellow gold; the same medallion design works in 18k gold, white gold, or rose gold

Center image: this piece features a specific saint figure; a new commission could feature a different figure, symbol, or portrait

Engraving: the script inscription on the back can be replaced with a different name, date, or phrase on a new piece

Pendant size: this piece is about one inch; a new commission could be sized larger or smaller depending on 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 inscription font was changed to a script style after the client saw the first sketch, and the client confirmed the aquamarine size should match the original reference image rather than being reduced. Design matched the initial brief otherwise without major changes.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a gift tied directly to what the recipient has accomplished, not just a generic milestone piece. It's especially fitting for marking a professional achievement with a symbol that has real personal meaning, worn in a format substantial enough to feel significant but comfortable enough for daily, hands-on work.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the piece moved from a rendered 3D model into a wax model produced on a 3D printer. That wax model was attached to a wax tree, invested in plaster inside a flask, then fired in a kiln to burn out the wax and leave a hollow mold. Molten 14k yellow gold was cast into the mold, then the piece was extracted, cleaned, and pre-polished ahead of finishing. After casting, the raised engraved portrait and the surrounding frame were cleaned up and given a polished finish to bring out the fine linework of the figure. The round aquamarines were then set one by one into individual prongs running continuously around the oval border, followed by a final full polish. The back of the pendant received a separate script engraving as its own finishing step.

Key note

The pendant's front image was cast directly into the metal from the 3D model rather than applied afterward, so the engraved portrait and the stone border were finished as one continuous polishing pass.

Pricing guidance

A one-inch gold medallion pendant with a full halo of natural colored stones and a custom engraved portrait sits toward the higher end of pendant pricing. Most of the cost comes from the stone-setting labor required to prong-set a continuous ring of stones and from the gold content at this size. Engraving and chain choice add modest cost on top of that baseline.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Using natural aquamarine at a larger stone size or higher clarity grade
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond one inch, which requires more gold and a larger stone border
↑
Choosing 18k gold instead of 14k for a higher gold content
↑
Adding a two-sided engraved design rather than a single back inscription
↑
Selecting a heavier or wider chain style

Moves price down ↓

↓
Switching from natural aquamarine to a lab-created or synthetic blue stone alternative
↓
Reducing the stone count around the border or using a partial rather than full halo
↓
Choosing a smaller pendant size, such as 3/4 inch instead of a full inch
↓
Using gold-plated silver instead of solid 14k gold
↓
Simplifying the back engraving to initials only instead of a full inscription

Questions people ask

Can you put a saint or religious figure on a pendant like this?

Yes, a specific religious figure can be engraved directly into the front of a medallion-style pendant using a 3D model built from a reference image. The image is cast into the metal itself, not applied as a surface print, so the fine linework holds up well over time. This works especially well for oval or round medallion shapes, which give the engraved figure a clean, defined frame. Reference photos help the design team capture the specific details the client wants preserved.

How durable is aquamarine for everyday jewelry?

Aquamarine rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it a solidly durable choice for daily wear, including for someone who works with their hands professionally. It resists scratching better than softer stones like opal or pearl, though it can still chip if struck directly at an angle. A prong or bezel setting protects the stone's edges during normal wear. It does not require any special care beyond standard jewelry cleaning.

What's the difference between natural and lab aquamarine?

Natural aquamarine is mined and forms with the color variations typical of a genuine gemstone, while lab-created versions are grown in a controlled setting and cost meaningfully less. Both share the same hardness and durability characteristics, since lab-created stones share the same chemical structure as their natural counterparts. The main visible difference is that natural stones can show very minor inclusions, while lab versions tend to be cleaner. Choosing lab aquamarine is a straightforward way to bring down cost on a stone-heavy design like a full halo border.

What does a custom pendant like this typically cost?

A one-inch gold medallion pendant with a full ring of natural colored stones and custom engraving sits toward the higher end of custom pendant pricing. The main cost drivers are the labor of setting a continuous border of stones by hand and the gold content at this size. Reducing the stone count, using a smaller pendant size, or switching to a lab-created stone are the most effective ways to bring the cost down. A chain is priced separately from the pendant itself.

How long does it take to make a custom engraved pendant?

The full process from approved design to finished piece typically runs about five to six weeks. The first week covers the sketch and 3D render stages, where the client reviews and approves the design before any metal is cast. Production then takes roughly three to four weeks, covering wax modeling, casting, stone setting, and final polishing. Rush timelines are sometimes available for clients with a firm deadline, such as a gift date.

Can the back of the pendant be engraved with a name or date?

Yes, the back of a medallion-style pendant is a natural place for a private engraving, such as a name and a date, in either a block or script font. The engraving is applied as a separate finishing step after the front design and stone setting are complete. Clients can typically choose their preferred font style during the design phase. This keeps the front design clean while still personalizing the piece on the back.

Can the stone border be made smaller or use fewer stones?

Yes, the number and size of stones in a halo-style border can be adjusted to change both the look and the cost of the piece. A partial border or smaller stones will reduce the amount of hand-setting labor required. Some clients choose to match a specific reference image's stone size exactly, while others prefer to scale it up or down. This is one of the more flexible elements of a medallion pendant design.

What metal options are available for a pendant like this?

This style of pendant is commonly made in 14k or 18k yellow gold, though white gold or rose gold can achieve the same design language with a different color palette. 14k gold offers a good balance of durability and value, while 18k has a richer color and higher gold content. The choice of metal affects both the final cost and the overall tone of the piece next to colored stones like aquamarine. Gold-plated silver is also an option for a similar look at a different price point.