Home Get Inspired Pendants Union Insignia Pendant — Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 19

An oval yellow gold pendant shaped like a coin medallion, featuring a textured background with a polished raised design of crossed tin snips and a hammer, surrounded by engraved lettering reading Sheet Metal Workers and Local Union No. 19, hanging on a yellow gold cable chain.

Union Insignia Pendant — Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 19

Gold-plated sterling silver

A.B. wanted a pendant that looked as close as possible to his union local's insignia — the crossed tools, the lettering, the whole seal reproduced in gold. He added one personal touch partway through the design: a date engraved on the back. When it arrived, he wrote simply: 'Thank you, I love it!'

'Yes this looks great! I'm ready to move forward with this image of the pendant.' — on seeing the first 3D design

'Thank you, I love it!' — on delivery

Start your project

Daily wear For himself Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage, Identity expression

Quick specs

Design type

Pendants

Primary Metal

Gold plated silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Coin medallion Engraved Fraternal Logo Word text

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage, Identity expression

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Pendant approximately 1 inch (25.4mm) diameter. Chain not sourced through studio.

How they made it distinctive

01
Oval coin format chosen to closely mirror the look of an actual union seal rather than a generic pendant shape
02
Dual finish — textured background with polished raised elements — selected specifically to keep the emblem and lettering legible
03
Personal date engraved on the back, added as a meaningful addition after the main design was approved
04
Cast in gold-plated sterling silver at a wearable one-inch size rather than an oversized statement scale

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is gold-plated sterling silver; a new commission could use solid 10k or 14k gold for a longer-lasting finish

Size: this piece is one inch; a new commission could be made smaller (around 3/4 inch) or larger

Finish: this piece uses a textured-and-polished combination; an all-polished finish is also possible on this design

Engraving: the back of this piece carries a date; a new commission could carry different text, initials, or a phrase

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

Design changes made

The only change from the initial brief was adding a personal date engraving to the back of the pendant after the first 3D design was approved — a small addition rather than a redesign.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants their trade or union identity to be visible every day, not tucked away. It's especially right if you have a specific emblem or seal in mind and want it reproduced faithfully rather than reinterpreted into something generic.

How it's made

Once the 3D design was approved, it was 3D-printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask went into a kiln, where the wax was burned out to leave a precise hollow mold of the pendant. Molten metal was then poured into that mold, and once cooled, the raw casting was removed and prepared for cleanup before finishing. The pendant uses two contrasting finishes applied in sequence: the recessed background and lettering were given a textured matte finish first, then the raised crossed-tools emblem and border were brought to a high polish so the insignia stands out clearly against the textured field. The back was then engraved with the client's requested date as a final detail before the piece was inspected and shipped.

Key note

The textured-and-polished finish combination was a deliberate choice to keep the insignia legible — a fully polished surface would have let the raised lettering and tool emblem blend into the glare rather than stand out.

Pricing guidance

A one-inch coin-style medallion pendant with raised emblem detail and a dual-finish surface sits toward the lower end of custom pendant work. Most of the cost comes from the 3D modeling needed to convert a flat insignia into a dimensional, cleanly legible design, plus the two-step finishing process. Metal choice is the next biggest factor after that.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from gold-plated silver to solid 10k or 14k gold
↑
Increasing the pendant size beyond one inch, which adds metal weight and modeling detail
↑
Engraving both sides of the pendant rather than just the back
↑
Adding a two-tone metal treatment to separate the emblem from the border
↑
Ordering a matching chain in solid gold rather than gold-plated silver

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the pendant size to 3/4 inch as discussed during the design phase
↓
Choosing an all-polished finish instead of the textured-and-polished combination
↓
Skipping the back engraving entirely
↓
Using the client's own existing chain instead of ordering one through the studio
↓
Simplifying the border detail from a beaded coin edge to a plain rim

Questions people ask

Can you turn a union or organization emblem into a pendant?

Yes, this is a common request — a flat emblem, seal, or insignia is photographed or described in detail and then rebuilt as a 3D design before anything is cast. The process starts with a digital model that the client reviews and approves before any metal is used. Raised elements like crossed tools or lettering can be kept dimensional so they read clearly rather than flattening out. This approach works well for union locals, fraternal organizations, and other group emblems.

What is gold-plated silver and how long does the plating last?

Gold-plated silver is a sterling silver base with a layer of gold plating applied over the top, giving the look of solid gold at a lower cost. The plating is a surface coating, so it will gradually wear with daily contact, especially on the parts of the piece that rub against skin or clothing. Higher-karat plating and less friction extend how long it looks fresh before needing to be re-plated. Many wearers get a year or more of good wear before any touch-up is needed.

How does the textured-and-polished finish work on a pendant like this?

The background areas of the design are given a matte or textured surface, while the raised elements — in this case the emblem and lettering — are brought to a high polish. This contrast makes the raised design stand out clearly instead of blending into an all-shiny surface. It's a common finishing choice on coin-style and medallion pendants where legibility of text or an emblem matters. The textured areas are typically finished before the polished areas, since polishing is usually one of the last steps.

What does a custom coin-style pendant like this typically cost?

A one-inch medallion pendant with a raised emblem and dual-finish surface sits toward the lower end of custom pendant pricing. The biggest cost driver is the 3D modeling work required to turn a flat image or emblem into a clean, dimensional design — that labor is the same regardless of metal choice. Metal type is the next factor, with gold-plated silver costing less than solid gold of the same size and design.

Can the pendant be engraved on the back?

Yes, a flat-backed coin or medallion pendant like this has enough surface area on the reverse side for a short engraving — a date, initials, or a few words. Engraving the back is typically a straightforward addition to the design and does not require any change to the front design. It's commonly done as a final personal touch after the main design is approved. Engraving both sides, rather than just the back, would add to the cost and production time.

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

The design phase typically takes about a week, during which a 3D model and render are shared for approval and any adjustments are made. Once the design is approved, production — casting, finishing, and any engraving — usually takes an additional two to three weeks. The full process from first approved design to a finished, shipped piece generally runs three to four weeks total. Rush timelines are available in some cases if needed.

Is gold-plated silver durable enough for daily wear?

Gold-plated silver holds up reasonably well for daily wear, though as a plated piece it will show gradual surface wear over time rather than staying pristine indefinitely. The underlying sterling silver structure is sturdy, so the core piece itself is durable even as the gold surface gradually softens in tone. For someone wearing the pendant every day, periodic re-plating keeps the gold look fresh. Choosing solid gold instead avoids the need for re-plating but costs more.

Can a pendant like this be made smaller or larger than one inch?

Yes, the size of a coin-style pendant can be adjusted up or down from the original design without changing the core layout. Going smaller, such as down to three-quarters of an inch, reduces both the metal cost and slightly simplifies production, while going larger adds weight and can make fine lettering easier to read. The emblem and lettering typically scale proportionally with the pendant size. The right size often comes down to how the pendant will be worn and personal preference for how noticeable it is.