Home Get Inspired Pendants Tapered Tooth Pendant — Silver Cap, Gold-Plated Body

A two-tone pendant shaped like a ridged, tapering tooth or horn, with a polished silver cap and bail at the top and a 14k gold-plated body tapering to a point, hanging from a silver chain.

Tapered Tooth Pendant — Silver Cap, Gold-Plated Body

Sterling silver, 14k yellow gold plating

A client came to us wanting a sculptural, tapered pendant recreated closely from a reference photo, with no stones and no engraving — just the form itself. She refined the design over several rounds, adjusting the tier count and the exact millimeter height of the cone to match her own measurements from the reference image. The finished piece shipped in sterling silver with 14k gold plating on the horn.

'Yay, it's very close to what I was thinking!' — on seeing the first render

'It looks amazing!' — on seeing the final render with requested adjustments

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Daily wear For herself Make Your Mark Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Secondary Metal

Gold plated silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

geometric Minimal Modern

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant length 38mm (1.5in); silver cap height to point 30.78mm.

How they made it distinctive

01
Six-tiered ridged cone shape chosen to match a specific reference image rather than a standard pendant silhouette
02
Two-tone finish — polished silver cap and bail paired with 14k gold-plated cone — for contrast without using stones
03
Cast hollow to keep a dimensional, tapered shape wearable and lightweight
04
Cone height adjusted by 2mm at the client's request, based on her own measurements from the reference photo rather than the render alone
05
Designed intentionally with no stones and no engraving, letting the sculptural form stand on its own

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is sterling silver with 14k gold plating on the horn; a new commission could use solid 14k or 18k gold throughout for a heavier, non-plated finish

Size: this piece is 1.5 inches long; a new piece can be scaled larger or smaller to suit a different wearer

Tier count: this piece has six ridged segments; a new commission could use more or fewer tiers for a different silhouette

Finish: this piece has a two-tone silver-and-gold look; a new piece could be finished in a single metal throughout

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

Design changes made

The pendant was reduced from seven tiers to six and a top detail from a second reference photo was added after the client reviewed the first render; the cone height was also trimmed by 2mm per the client's own measurements to keep the proportions from reading as too long.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone drawn to sculptural, geometric jewelry rather than traditional gemstone pieces — someone who wants a shape to speak for itself. It's especially right if you have a specific reference image or form in mind and care about getting the proportions exactly right.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the pendant 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 in the shape of the piece. Molten metal was then cast into that mold under pressure; once cooled, the raw pendant was broken out of the mold and prepared for finishing. After casting, the piece was cleaned and polished to bring up the contrast between the two metal zones — the silver cap and bail were polished bright, while the ridged cone below was finished and then plated in 14k yellow gold to create the two-tone segmented look. The hollow center was retained through casting to keep the overall weight manageable given the piece's dimensional, tapered shape.

Key note

The pendant is cast hollow rather than solid specifically to manage weight, since a fully dimensional tapered form this size in metal would otherwise be substantially heavier to wear.

Pricing guidance

A dimensional, sculptural pendant with no stones in sterling silver with gold plating sits toward the lower end of mid-range for fully 3D custom pieces. Most of the cost comes from the metal weight required to realize a tapered, multi-tiered form at this scale, plus the labor to model and finish two distinct metal zones. Plating choice and overall size are the biggest levers on price from there.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from gold-plated silver to solid 14k or 18k gold for the cone section
↑
Increasing the overall length beyond 1.5 inches, which adds metal weight
↑
Adding stones or engraving to the design
↑
Casting the piece solid rather than hollow

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant to a smaller overall size
↓
Using a single metal throughout rather than a two-tone silver-and-gold-plated design
↓
Simplifying the number of tiers/segments in the cone
↓
Choosing a thinner wall thickness in the hollow casting

Questions people ask

Can you make a pendant with no stones, just a metal shape?

Yes, a fully dimensional pendant can be designed with no gemstones at all, relying entirely on its form and metal finish for visual interest. This type of piece is modeled in 3D first, then cast in metal, so the shape itself — not a stone setting — carries the design. It works well for geometric, sculptural, or object-inspired designs. Because there's no stone setting involved, production is actually a bit more straightforward than a stone-set piece.

How long does gold plating last on a silver pendant?

Gold plating is a thin layer of gold applied over the base metal, in this case sterling silver, and it will gradually wear with regular contact and exposure to skin oils and moisture. Most plated pieces hold their color well for one to two years of normal wear before any fading becomes noticeable. High-contact areas wear faster than protected ones. Re-plating is a standard jewelry service if the gold finish fades over time.

What does a custom sculptural pendant like this typically cost?

A fully 3D, multi-tiered pendant with no stones in gold-plated sterling silver sits toward the lower end of mid-range for custom dimensional work. The main cost driver is the metal weight needed to realize a tapered shape at a wearable size, plus the labor of modeling and finishing two metal zones. Solid gold versions or larger sizes would push the cost higher, while a smaller size or single-metal finish would bring it down.

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

From design approval to shipping, a piece like this typically takes about four weeks to produce. The process starts with 3D printing a wax model, which is then cast in metal using the lost-wax method. After casting, the piece goes through cleaning, polishing, and plating before a final quality check and shipment. Design refinement before approval can add additional time if several rounds of adjustments are needed.

Can the pendant be made hollow to reduce weight?

Yes, dimensional pendants like this are commonly cast hollow rather than solid specifically to manage weight. A solid metal version of a tapered, multi-tiered shape at this size would be noticeably heavier to wear around the neck. Casting hollow keeps the piece comfortable for daily wear while preserving the full visual shape and detail. This is a standard technique for larger 3D pendant designs.

Can I get this pendant in solid gold instead of gold-plated silver?

Yes, a dimensional pendant like this can be cast in solid 14k or 18k gold instead of gold-plated sterling silver. Solid gold will cost significantly more than a plated silver piece because of the metal weight involved, especially for a larger dimensional shape. It also will not require re-plating over time, since the gold color goes all the way through rather than sitting as a surface layer. Many clients start with a plated version and consider solid gold for a future piece.

Can you match a pendant design to a reference photo I provide?

Yes, a reference photo is commonly used as the starting point for a custom 3D design. The design team builds a 3D render based on the photo and any measurements or details provided, and the client reviews and requests adjustments before anything is cast in metal. Multiple rounds of refinement are normal, especially for pieces where exact proportions matter to the client. The final piece is based on the approved 3D render, not a direct scan of the original photo.

Can the chain bail or hole size be customized to fit a specific chain?

Yes, the size of the bail or chain hole can be specified during the design phase to match a particular chain thickness or existing piece. This is typically confirmed early, since it affects how the top of the pendant is modeled. If you have a specific chain in mind, sharing its width during the design process ensures the bail will fit correctly.