Pendants for Your Necklace: Cross, Compass and Dog Tag
A pendant makes a chain personal. Choose a cross pendant, a compass pendant, an engravable dog tag or an iced out pendant, and wear it on a 2 to 3 mm box or rope chain, so the pendant sets the tone.
A silver-tone pendant or gold-tone pendant is the part that makes a chain personal. The same chain takes on a completely different character with a different pendant, and you can switch whenever you like. In this collection you will find cross pendants, dog tags to engrave, compasses and a clover pendant, in silver and gold tones. With the compass, dog tag and clover pendant you choose the chain separately.
Which pendant?
The smooth stainless steel cross pendant is 3 cm tall and 2.5 cm wide: big enough to stand out, small enough for every day. The iced out cross pendant is 4.1 by 2.1 cm and set all around with cubic zirconia on copper alloy. The clover pendant is solid 925 sterling silver with cubic zirconia and measures 2.1 by 3.8 cm. The 18 by 30 mm dog tag has a flat front for text or a photo, and the compass pendant comes in silver-tone and gold-tone stainless steel.
The right chain for it
Choose a link that is not too wide, so the pendant sets the tone and not the chain. A slimmer king's chain, box or rope of 2 to 3 mm works best for that. Also check that the bail of the pendant fits over the link: with a wide Cuban link it often does not. Choose the chain in the same color and material as the pendant, otherwise small differences in shine stand out.
Which pendant size?
The size of a pendant goes hand in hand with the width of your chain and your build. A 3 cm pendant, like the smooth cross, is visible without dominating and suits a 2 to 3 mm chain. A pendant of 4 cm or more, like the iced out cross or the clover pendant, is a statement and calls for a slightly sturdier 3 mm chain and a length of 55 or 60 cm.
Length decides the position
At 50 cm the pendant hangs just below your collarbone, at 55 to 60 cm mid-chest, and from 65 cm it falls over a shirt or hoodie. Add the full height of the pendant to that: a 4 cm pendant drops your chain 4 cm further, while 4 cm of extra chain only makes 2 cm of difference. Why that is, is explained in our guide on how a pendant counts in chain length. Wearing several chains? Keep at least 10 cm difference in length, which gives 5 cm of space between the pendants.
Pairing
Wear one pendant per combination and keep the rest plain. A pendant on a 55 cm chain with a plain 45 or 50 cm chain above it works; two pendants at once gets busy. Choose the pendant in the same color as your ring or watch.
Material
The silver-tone pendants in stainless steel are bare, polished steel: no layer to wear off and no tarnish, so you can keep them on in the shower. The gold-tone steel pendants and the stone-set models on nickel-free copper alloy have a five-layer PVD finish. It is harder than ordinary plating, but it is still a layer: take those off before the shower and the gym. The clover pendant is 925 sterling silver without coating: a real precious metal, with more weight and a deeper shine. Every pendant comes off before the pool, because chlorine is harsher than shower water.
A pendant as a gift
A pendant is the easiest jewelry gift to get right, because there is no size involved. A dog tag with initials, a date or a photo makes it personal; allow one extra working day for the engraving. Looking for more to engrave? Have a look at the engravable jewelry or the signet rings.