Custom Pet Portrait Necklace From Your Photo
Turn a favourite photo of your pet into a custom sterling silver portrait necklace, made to order in our Ajax, Ontario jewellery studio.
We create the portrait artwork in-house from the photos you provide, then send it to you for approval before engraving. The finished necklace includes an approximately 20 mm .925 sterling silver pendant and your choice of 16”, 18”, 20” or 22” sterling silver chain.
Dogs and cats are the most common, but we can create portraits from photographs of virtually any pet.
Included with your necklace:
- Custom portrait artwork created from your photos
- .925 sterling silver pendant
- .925 sterling silver chain in 16”, 18”, 20” or 22”
- Your pet’s name on the front, if desired
- Artwork proof before engraving
- Made-to-order production in Ajax, Ontario
Custom Portrait That Looks Like Your Pet
Anyone who loves an animal knows that getting the likeness right isn’t just about drawing the correct breed. It’s the shape of the ears, the markings around the eyes, a slightly crooked smile or the expression they make when they’re waiting for you to open the treat cupboard.
We use your photographs as references to create the engraving artwork in-house. Backgrounds and distracting details can be removed, and several photos can be used when one image doesn’t show everything we need. Before the pendant is made, we’ll send you the finished portrait to review. If there’s something you want adjusted, tell us. We’ll make the changes before engraving.
That approval process is especially important with pet portraits because you know your pet better than anyone else does.
How We Make Your Custom Pet Necklace
Upload your photos when placing your order. Clear, well-lit images are easiest to work from, particularly when the eyes, markings and shape of the face are easy to see.
That doesn’t mean your photo has to be perfect.
We regularly work with the photographs people actually have: phone pictures, older images, scans and photos taken long before anyone thought they might one day become a piece of jewellery. If you’re unsure about an image, send us the best one you have and we’ll assess it.
Our team prepares the portrait artwork in Adobe Illustrator and converts it into a vector design suitable for engraving. Once you’ve approved the artwork, we cut and laser engrave the sterling silver pendant in our Ajax studio and finish the jewellery in-house. Artwork is generally ready for review within about three business days. After approval, the pendant itself usually takes another one to two business days to produce.
Personalize Your Pet Portrait Pendant
The standard $120 necklace includes one pet portrait, the pet’s name if you’d like it included, the sterling silver pendant and a sterling silver chain. For an additional $10, we can engrave the reverse with a date, name, short message or another detail that means something to you.
If you’d like the pendant made in gold or want to discuss a different size, contact us through the website chat. Gold pricing varies with the metal market, so those pieces are quoted individually.
Jewellery for the Pets You Love
Not every pet pendant has the same story behind it. Some customers order one because their dog follows them into every room and already appears on half the things they own. Some buy one as a gift for somebody who is completely obsessed with their cat. Others come to us with an old photograph because they’re looking for a way to remember a pet they’ve lost.
We’ve made custom and memorial jewellery for many years, including pieces built around photographs, fingerprints, names, dates and other personal details. The common thread is simple: the jewellery means something because the subject means something.
We’re pet people ourselves, so we understand why getting the details right matters.
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Pet Portrait Necklaces
What kind of photo works best for a pet portrait necklace?
Clear, well-lit photographs give us the most information to work with. Ideally, we should be able to see your pet’s eyes, facial shape, markings and other recognizable features without heavy shadows or blur.
High resolution is helpful, but it isn’t an absolute requirement. If the image you love is older, scanned or simply not perfect, upload it anyway. We can review the photograph and determine whether there’s enough information to create a strong engraving.
Can you make a pendant from an old or imperfect pet photo?
Yes, in many cases we can. Some of the most meaningful photos weren’t taken with custom jewellery in mind, especially when we’re working on a memorial piece. Our artwork is prepared in-house, which gives us room to clean up backgrounds, simplify distracting elements and use additional photographs as references when necessary.
If you’re unsure, send us what you have. We’d rather look at the photo than have you assume it can’t be used.
Can I send several photos of my pet?
Yes, and sometimes that’s the best approach. One photograph might show the markings around the face clearly while another captures the expression or ear position that feels most recognizable to you. We can use several reference images when preparing the portrait rather than relying entirely on a single photograph.
If there’s a particular feature or expression you want us to capture, include that in your instructions when you submit the photos.
Will I see the portrait before my necklace is engraved?
Yes. We send you the portrait artwork for approval before engraving the jewellery. If we’ve missed a marking, the expression doesn’t quite feel right or there’s something from another photograph you’d prefer us to use, let us know. We’ll work with you on the portrait before moving into production.
We don’t engrave the pendant until you’ve approved the artwork.
Can you remove a collar, leash or background from my photo?
Usually, yes. The photograph is used as a reference rather than reproduced exactly as it appears. When creating the engraving artwork, we can remove backgrounds and simplify elements such as collars, leashes or other distractions when doing so produces a cleaner portrait.
If there’s something specific you want included or removed, mention it with your order.
What kinds of pets can you put on the necklace?
We can create the artwork from virtually any pet we can clearly identify from your photographs. Dogs and cats are the most common, but there’s no reason the subject has to be either. Horses, rabbits, birds, reptiles and other animals can all work.
The quality of the reference photographs matters more than the species.
Can I add my pet’s name or a message?
Your pet’s name can be included with the portrait on the front at no additional charge. For $10, we can also engrave the reverse of the pendant with a name, date, short message or another meaningful detail. This is particularly popular for gifts and memorial pieces.
If you have something longer or more unusual in mind, contact us before ordering so we can confirm that it will fit comfortably.
Can you make the pet pendant in gold?
Yes. We can make custom versions in gold and can also discuss alternate pendant sizes. Because gold prices fluctuate and the amount of metal required depends on the piece, gold versions are quoted individually rather than offered at a fixed product-page price.
Use the website chat to tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll provide options.
How long does a custom pet portrait necklace take to make?
We generally prepare your portrait artwork for approval within approximately three business days of receiving your order and usable photographs. After you’ve approved the artwork, production usually takes another one to two business days. Because every pendant is made to order, the timeline can vary somewhat depending on our workload and the complexity of the artwork.
Shipping time is additional and depends on your location. If you’re ordering for a specific birthday, holiday or other date, contact us before ordering and we’ll let you know what’s realistic.
Are custom pet pendants returnable?
Because the artwork and jewellery are created specifically for your pet and approved by you before production, custom orders are final sale. If your piece arrives damaged or there’s a genuine problem with the jewellery, contact us. We’ll review the issue and work with you to make it right.
Normal wear, scratches, tarnishing and changes caused by chemicals or improper care aren’t manufacturing defects, but sterling silver can often be cleaned, polished or refinished.