Home Get Inspired Pendants Two-Tone Gold Unity Faith Service Medallion Pendant

A circular two-tone gold pendant with praying hands in white gold on a raised triangle, the triangle edges engraved Unity, Service, and Faith, and the rim engraved To Thine Own Self Be True.

Two-Tone Gold Unity Faith Service Medallion Pendant

Sterling silver, 14k yellow gold plating, white rhodium plating

A client came to us wanting a medallion built around prayer hands inside a triangle, with a personal affirmation engraved along its edges. Partway through the design process he asked to swap in a word that reflected his own journey, choosing faith in place of the word that usually marks recovery milestones. When the finished piece arrived, he wrote simply: 'I'm so excited!!!'

'That sounds great. Thank you I'm so excited!!!' — on hearing how the piece would be produced

'Yes that's perfect' — on seeing the 3D render

Start your project

Daily wear For himself Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage, Sobriety / recovery milestone

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Gold plated silver

Secondary Metal

Rhodium plated silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

3D Engraved Religios Sobriety symbol Symbolic Two-stone

Design Complexity

Complex

Intent

Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage, Sobriety / recovery milestone

Intent: Certainty

Medium

Size

Pendant 2in diameter. Bail sized to fit client's existing chain.

How they made it distinctive

01
Dimensional 3D prayer hands at the center give the triangle a sculptural focal point rather than a flat engraving
02
Two-tone plating separates the outer circle from the inner triangle, creating visual contrast between the two design zones
03
Engraved affirmation around the circle's edge pairs with three engraved words on the triangle's sides to carry a personal, layered meaning
04
Wording on the triangle was personalized away from the standard phrasing to reflect the client's own values
05
Bail was custom-sized to fit a chain the client already owned rather than a standard-issue chain

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is gold-plated silver with white rhodium accents; a new commission could use solid 14k gold or an all-white-gold palette

Engraving: this piece carries a specific three-word triangle inscription; a new commission could carry different wording or a date

Size: this piece is 2 inches in diameter; a new commission is sized to the wearer's own preference and chain

Finish: this piece uses a two-tone contrast between the circle and triangle; a new commission could use a single consistent tone throughout

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

After the initial sketch was approved, the client requested the triangle's engraving be changed from the standard recovery-themed wording to 'Unity, Faith, Service' — a personal substitution that was incorporated before the 3D render was produced.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a wearable symbol of a personal value system rather than a purely decorative pendant. It's especially right if you're looking for a piece that can carry a specific, meaningful phrase alongside a recognizable symbolic design, worn as a daily, visible reminder of what matters most to you.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the piece moved into physical production starting with a 3D-printed wax model attached to a tree within a casting flask. The flask was placed in a kiln, where the wax was burned out to leave a hollow mold, and molten metal was then poured into that cavity. After cooling, the raw medallion was removed from the mold and prepared for finishing work, including cleaning and polishing of the dimensional surfaces. The piece carries two distinct finish zones: the outer circle and triangle border were plated in 14k yellow gold, while the triangle's interior field was finished in white rhodium plating to create contrast with the raised prayer hands at its center. The engraved lettering along the circle's edge and the triangle's three sides was cut after casting, once the dimensional relief of the hands was already finished and polished.

Key note

The two-tone effect is achieved entirely through plating rather than two different cast metals — the yellow and white gold finishes are applied as separate plating steps to the same cast sterling silver base.

Pricing guidance

A dimensional 3D medallion pendant with engraved lettering and two-tone plating sits in the mid range for custom pendant work. Most of the cost comes from the complexity of the raised relief design and the two separate plating processes required for the contrasting finish. Engraving detail and overall pendant size are the next biggest cost factors.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Casting in solid 14k gold rather than gold-plated silver
↑
Increasing the pendant diameter beyond 2 inches, which requires more metal and more surface detail work
↑
Adding gemstone accents to the triangle or outer ring
↑
Engraving additional text on the reverse side

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant to a flat or low-relief design instead of full 3D dimensional hands
↓
Choosing a single metal tone instead of the two-tone yellow and white plating
↓
Omitting the engraved lettering around the circle and triangle edges
↓
Using a smaller 1-inch diameter instead of 2 inches

Questions people ask

Is this pendant solid gold or plated?

This particular pendant is sterling silver with 14k yellow and white gold plating rather than solid gold. Plating gives a very similar look and feel to solid gold at a more accessible cost, since the gold forms the visible surface layer over a silver base. Like any plating, it will gradually wear with daily contact, especially at high-friction points, and can be re-plated by a jeweler when needed. Solid gold is available as an alternative if you want a piece that doesn't require maintenance over time.

Can you make a 3D raised design like the prayer hands on this pendant?

Yes, dimensional or 3D relief designs like raised prayer hands are achievable through CAD modeling and lost-wax casting. The design is built as a three-dimensional digital model before it's printed in wax and cast, which allows for genuine depth and shading rather than a flat engraved image. This approach works well for hands, figures, symbols, and other sculptural elements that need to read clearly in physical form. The render stage lets you review the dimensional details before any metal is committed.

How durable is gold plating on a pendant like this?

Gold plating on sterling silver is a thin layer of real gold bonded to the surface, and its durability depends on thickness and how often the piece contacts skin, clothing, or other jewelry. Most plated pieces hold their color well for one to two years of regular wear before any visible fading appears on high-contact areas. Pendants generally fare better than rings or bracelets because they have less friction exposure. Re-plating is a routine service most jewelers offer when the color starts to dull.

What does a custom engraved medallion pendant like this typically cost?

A two-tone, dimensional medallion pendant with engraved lettering on both the outer ring and an inner triangle sits in the mid range for custom pendant work. The price reflects the 3D modeling needed for the raised prayer hands, the two separate plating steps for the yellow and white gold contrast, and the engraving work. Simpler versions without the dimensional relief or the two-tone finish would cost less; adding gemstones or solid gold construction would increase it.

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

The design phase for a piece like this typically takes about one week, covering an initial sketch for approval followed by a 3D photorealistic render. Once the design is approved, production takes roughly three to four weeks, covering wax printing, casting, cooling, cleanup, polishing, and the two plating steps. In total, most custom pendants of this complexity are completed within four to five weeks from deposit to shipping. Engraved text is typically added after the dimensional casting is polished.

Can I use my own chain with a custom pendant like this?

Yes, many clients provide their own chain rather than ordering one as part of the pendant. When this is the case, it's important to confirm the chain's width and clasp style before the pendant is finalized, since the bail opening needs to be sized to fit that specific chain. This pendant's bail was sized specifically to accommodate a chain the client already owned. If you don't yet have a chain, one can be sourced and sized to match the pendant instead.

Can the wording on a medallion like this be customized?

Yes, engraved text on a piece like this can be fully customized to whatever words or phrase carries meaning for you. On this pendant, the client changed the originally discussed wording to a different set of three words that reflected his own personal values before the design moved to the render stage. Changes like this are easiest to make during the sketch-approval stage, before the 3D render and casting begin. Once a render is approved and production starts, further wording changes become more difficult to accommodate.

Can this design be made with a different stone or without any engraving?

Yes, this specific design doesn't use any gemstones, relying instead on the dimensional relief and engraved lettering for its visual impact, but a new commission could incorporate a small stone accent if desired. Removing the engraved text entirely is also possible, which would simplify production and shift the piece toward a purely sculptural pendant. Both changes would be new design decisions made on a fresh commission rather than modifications to an identical existing design.