Any piece of jewelry is pretty much guaranteed to breathe new life into your old looks. But if you want something that’s completely personalized and has a unique touch unlike any other, you’ll need to customize one yourself.

Customizing your own pendant doesn’t require a degree in art or stellar craftsmanship. You’ll just pick out the crucial elements, and we’ll do all the hard work for you. But since every single piece is handcrafted to order, custom pendants must cost a fortune, right?

Like any piece of jewelry, custom pendants can garner a high price tag that’s inaccessible for most. But there are plenty of ways to ball on a budget.

Here’s how much it costs to make a custom pendant. Plus, read on for some tips for getting the most of your luxury piece without dropping luxury stacks of cash.

What Makes Pendants So Expensive?

You’ve probably seen ancient rulers, medieval kings, or other high-society individuals adorned with giant golden pendants. That’s because, since the dawn of jewelry’s conception, pendants have been used to denote wealth and status.

Early on, amulets were worn as a means of protecting royalty from harmful spirits and demons. Over time, the ideology may have shifted, but large pendants remained a valuable part of wardrobes for kings, queens, princes, and princesses.

This explains some of why pendants are historically on the higher end of the price spectrum, as they are often used as a status symbol. Since wealth and power often go hand in hand, pendants typically cost quite a bit as a means of exemplifying the power that the wearer possesses.

Additionally, pendants often contain large gemstones that you wouldn’t find on other pieces, like bracelets or earrings. Perhaps obviously, a large emerald or diamond hanging around your neck will naturally garner a higher cost.

Finally, custom pendants may have a price increase when compared to mass-produced pendants, as each is meticulously crafted based on individual preferences. So you may be paying a little extra for the labor and care that was taken to make a piece that is truly individualized to you.

Cost of a Custom Pendant

Since you have the freedom to pick and choose the elements of a custom pendant, it is pretty much impossible to say exactly how much it costs to produce. With that said, you may be able to estimate based on your preferences.

If you’re a go-getter who’s dead set on getting only the highest quality solid gold or diamonds for your piece, then you can expect to pay more. For instance, the difference between getting your piece in gold plated versus 100% solid gold can be thousands of dollars.

However, you can keep the price in the hundreds by going with diamond alternatives, such as cubic zirconia, or by choosing gold plating over solid gold. Gold plating involves placing a thin layer of gold over a different base metal, like silver or copper. The end result looks exactly the same as a solid gold piece. However, gold plating is more durable and far less soft than solid gold.

In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $15,000 for a typical custom pendant. And while that range may not be very specific, it all comes down to the fact that you can essentially craft the piece entirely based on your budget specifications.

Ballin’ On a Budget

If you’re worried about overspending on a pendant for you or someone special in your life, don’t worry. You can get exceptionally high-quality, individualized pieces that mean a lot without costing a lot.

For one, when designing your pendant, consider going with gold plated or vermeil options rather than solid gold:

• Gold plating is most inexpensive, though you’ll get the least amount of actual gold in your piece. 

• Vermeil is a happy medium, meaning that the layer of gold on top has to be at least 2.5 microns thick. This makes the piece more durable and sturdy without being as pricey as solid gold.

Brush Font Custom Letter Pendant

Additionally, the intricacy of your pendant can alter the cost, too. Some retailers may change the price depending on how many letters you add to your word pendant or how detailed the picture is in your picture pendant. With that said, it’s not the case everywhere you go.

Iced Wings Custom Picture Pendant

Finally, remember that your pendant isn’t the only feature of the piece as a whole. You also need to get a chain to go along with it. Getting a detailed, diamond-studded chain will naturally increase the price. So if you choose to pair your pendant with a thinner, inexpensive chain, you can try to splurge a bit on the main features.

Making the Most of Your Money

If you’re ready to make the investment in yourself, or in someone else, with a highly personalized custom pendant, then you’ll want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

First, make sure you’re purchasing from a reputable retailer. Look for features such as a lifetime guarantee, which shows that the jeweler is committed to delivering you the highest quality end result. 

Additionally, ensure that you have plenty of customization options. Some retailers will only let you mix and match the words or pictures on the pendant, which won’t be worth your time. You’ll want to have full control over the base metal, diamond studs, and the accompanying chain.

Heart Locket Custom Picture Pendant

If you’re giving the pendant as a gift, make sure you are milking every last drop of sentimentality to deliver something that is truly unforgettable. Incorporate phrases that mean a lot to the individual or fill up a locket with an important picture. Do whatever you can to get your money’s worth and give a gift that is completely unlike anything else.

Finally, browse the premade jewelry options as well. While they may not be able to hit all of the right marks that a custom pendant is able to achieve, you might be able to find something that still speaks volumes. Every pendant can be a custom pendant when you assign them your own meaning.

Pay Pennies for Pendants

Custom pendants can take a lot of time and effort to create. And while this may make it seem like they are completely out of range for most buyers, there are ways to get a quality piece for a low price.

Getting a pendant loaded with solid gold and real diamonds will naturally run you a high price tag. Couple that with the costs of labor of creating a one-of-a-kind piece, and you might be looking at a bill for thousands of dollars.

But if you know where to look, and you know how to use diamond alternatives or gold plating to your advantage, you can get away with an equally stunning piece for even less than a full tank of gas.

For solid gold custom pendants, gold plated personalized pieces, and everything in between, 6 Ice is the purveyor of the finest jewelry on the market.

 

Sources:

Early History of Jewelry: Ancient Times to the 17th Century | International Gem Society

Diamond Simulants | GIA

Diamond Carat Weight | American Gem Society