Gold Pendants and Charms

This is the question most buyers miss. Some pendants are sold as a full necklace, others as the pendant only.

For pendants sold without a chain, pick one from chains. A 1 to 1.5 mm box, wheat or Singapore chain suits pendants this size.

Lockets open to hold a photo you insert yourself, like the Classic Heart Locket ($380). The tri-color lockets mix yellow, white and rose gold in one piece. Initials come as single letters: the Cursive Gold Initials ($390) is offered in every letter and all three gold colors, and the Diamond Number Pendants ($535) covers 0 through 9. Symbols include the evil eye, tree of life, compass and the interlocking circles. Faith pieces include a solid gold cross and two 14K rosary chains.

For plain gold, price follows gold weight and labor. Two pendants of the same size can differ a lot if one is solid and puffy and the other is a thin cut-out. Three checks help:

1. Karat: 10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.3 percent. Same design, higher karat, higher price.
2. Weight: heavier means more gold. Ask for the gram weight on any plain gold piece over a few hundred dollars.
3. Finish: diamond-cut faces, like the Diamond Cut Heart Necklace ($400), add sparkle without stones.

Read the gold karat guide and 10K vs 14K gold for the full tradeoff.

Look for the karat stamp on the bail or back: 10K or 417, 14K or 585. The FTC requires gold to be marked with its true karat, and US stamping rules allow the actual gold content to fall short of the mark by no more than 3 parts per thousand, or 7 on soldered pieces. Magnets and bite tests only screen out obvious fakes. An X-ray test at a jeweler is the reliable check. More in how to tell if gold is real and how to tell if a Cuban link is real.

Gold pendants in this price range have small bails sized for fine chains, not wide Cubans. If you want to hang one on a heavier chain, measure the bail opening first; the chain and its clasp must both pass through. As a rule, a pendant under an inch looks best on a chain of 2 mm or less.

A pendant with a meaning makes a gift easier to give. The listing for each one explains the symbol, so the note writes itself. Most of these ship with a chain, so they arrive ready to wear.

The Engravable Teardrop Charm Necklace ($390) can be engraved. Note from the listing: engraved items are not eligible for returns, so double-check spelling. For a fully custom gold piece, the custom process starts with your idea and gives you a design and an exact price before anything is made, see custom pendants. Clean gold with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, and keep lockets dry inside. Every order ships insured. To see the colors in person, visit the showroom at 7900 NW 27th Ave, Unit 506, Miami FL 33147. More at pendants.