Custom Pendant Boxes

Sized by the Pendant, Not the Chain

A pendant box shows one focal piece and the first few inches of chain. The rest of the chain is folded out of sight behind or under the pad. So the footprint is set by the pendant's width and height, and the depth by its thickness and bail. Chain length changes how the chain is folded, not how big the box is.

That is the opposite of a full necklace box, which has to lay out the whole chain. If a pendant sits in a box sized for a 20 inch coil, it looks lost. The planning numbers below keep the piece centred and the lid off its face.

Pendant Sizes and Typical Box Interiors

Jewelers commonly group pendants as small (about 8 to 15 mm), medium (16 to 25 mm) and large (26 mm and up). Lockets are thicker and often oval; one common example measures 33 x 24 mm. The interior columns are typical planning sizes; exact sizes are set to your piece at quoting.

Pendant	Face size	Interior footprint (planning)	Interior depth (planning)
Small solitaire, initial or disc	8 to 15 mm (0.3 to 0.6 in)	about 2.5 in square	about 0.75 in
Medium gemstone or bar	16 to 25 mm	2.75 to 3 in square	0.75 to 1 in
Large statement or medallion	26 mm and up	3.5 in square or more	about 1 in
Photo locket	about 33 x 24 mm oval	3 to 3.5 in square	1.25 in or more

A stock cotton-filled 3.5 x 3.5 x 0.87 in box is a handy reference for medium pieces. A 33 mm locket is about 1.3 in tall on its own, so it needs both a larger footprint and more lid clearance than a flat disc.

Bail Depth and How the Chain Threads Through

The bail is the loop at the top of the pendant that the chain runs through. It sets how thick the chain can be, and it often sits higher than the pendant face, so it decides lid clearance.

Pendant thickness	Typical bail inside depth	What it means for the insert
Up to 10 mm	6 to 8 mm	Slit pad works; chain end passes through easily
10 to 25 mm	8 to 11 mm	Widen the slit or add a bail slot so the loop sits flush
25 mm and up	15 mm or more	Use a bail slot or raised pad; check lid clearance over the loop

Jewelers add roughly 0.5 to 1.5 mm of clearance inside the bail. For packaging, make the pad slit at least as wide as the clasp or chain end that has to pass through it, or the chain will fray the card or foam.

Chain Length Changes the Fold, Not the Footprint

Common chain names follow length: 14 to 16 inches is choker, 18 inches princess (just below the collarbone), 20 to 24 inches matinee, 24 to 30 inches opera, and longer than that rope. Small and medium pendants usually ship on 16 to 18 inch chains, while bold pieces ride on 22 to 24 inches. Heavier pendants pull the chain lower on the body.

In the box, a longer chain simply folds behind the pad in more loops. An 18 inch and a 24 inch chain can share the same footprint if the pad is thick enough to hide the extra length. A heavy rope chain may need a little more depth.

Chain sold separately

Some brands sell the pendant alone and offer chains as an add-on. A pad with a bail slot holds a chainless pendant upright, and a small envelope or second compartment can carry the chain if bought together.

Insert Options: Slit Pad, Bail Slot, Tilted Pad, Neck Card

• Slit pad: two slits in a card or foam pad. The chain ends go through, the clasp sits behind, and the pendant rests centred on the face.
• Bail slot: a short cut that holds the bail itself, so the pendant hangs straight even without tension on the chain.
• Tilted pad: a pad angled roughly 15 to 30 degrees so the face catches light when the lid opens. Needs more depth at the back.
• Neck card: a 2.5 x 3.5 in card on 16 pt board with two short slits angled about 30 to 45 degrees, used for peg display or inside a box.
• Tray with tucked chain: a shallow recess for the pendant and a pocket behind for the chain, often used for heavy lockets.

Pendant Types and the Insert Each Needs

• Solitaire: small and flat; a slit pad centres it and hides the chain.
• Gemstone or statement: wider face; step up to a 3.5 in square and widen the pad.
• Locket: thick and heavier; add depth and use a tray so the lid does not press the hinge.
• Engraved disc or bar: light and flat; a slit pad or neck card holds it upright for reading.
• Charm pendant: small but three-dimensional; a short channel lets it sit without tipping.
• Religious or keepsake piece: often given as a gift; a clamshell or flip-top frames the reveal.

A brand with several pendant styles can keep one outer box and change only the insert, which keeps the shelf look consistent while each piece still fits.

Board and Build by Pendant Weight

Light discs, bars and initials do well in a folding SBS carton at 18 to 24 pt (0.018 to 0.024 in caliper); GSM equivalents vary by mill. Heavier gemstone pieces and lockets are better in rigid chipboard wrapped in paper, which resists crushing in a handbag or mailer. Constructions that suit pendants include lift-off lid and base, flip-top hinged, clamshell, drawer and magnetic. Compare them on the custom rigid boxes style page and see board options in the packaging materials catalog.

Lining Contrast and Protecting the Face

Choose a pad colour that contrasts with the metal: dark pads behind silver and white gold, lighter or neutral pads behind yellow gold. A same-tone pad makes the pendant disappear. Polished faces and gemstones scratch if the lid touches them, so keep at least a few millimetres between the highest point of the piece and the underside of the lid, and avoid hard card directly against a polished face.

Gift Sets: Pendant With Earrings

A matching pendant and earring set works in a 3.5 x 3.5 in or 4 x 4 in box with a split pad: slits for the pendant on one side and a small earring section on the other. Keep the pendant centred in its zone so the set reads as one gift.

Bridal, Memorial and Recognition Orders

Bridal sellers box birthstone and initial pendants for wedding parties, often in matching sets of six or more. Memorial and keepsake brands sell photo lockets and engraved discs, which need depth and a careful reveal. Corporate recognition programs order engraved pendants for service awards, with the company logo on the lid and the recipient's message inside. Online sellers need the pendant held firmly so it arrives centred. See the jewelry boxes industry page for related formats.

Mistakes to Avoid With Pendant Boxes

• Sizing for the full chain: the pendant looks lost. Size for the pendant and fold the chain.
• Ignoring bail height: the bail often stands taller than the face and hits the lid.
• Shallow box for a locket: lockets need 1.25 in or more of interior depth.
• Slit narrower than the clasp: the chain end catches and tears the pad.
• No contrast: a gold pendant on a gold pad loses its outline.
• No outer shipper for online orders: a presentation box alone may not stand up to parcel handling; check whether a cushioned mailer is appropriate.

Minimums and Quote Details

Pendant boxes start at an MOQ of 100 on standard square sizes; rigid locket boxes, tilted pads and split gift-set inserts may raise the minimum. Send The Printing World the pendant height, width and thickness, bail size, chain length, insert type and closure.

Reorders on locked artwork may reduce proofing time because the structure and artwork are already approved, but standard production remains 10–14 business days after artwork approval unless otherwise confirmed.

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