From Photo to Finished Necklace

Every piece starts with a photo of your pet and is turned into a permanent engraving in solid metal. The process is slow, deliberate, and designed to create real depth, not a flat image.

Sterling Paw Co began with a single pendant made for my girlfriend's dog, the first one took a long time to make, since then I have thankfully perfected the process. I wanted something that felt personal, subtle, and lasting - not a printed image or mass-produced charm. That same approach now goes into every piece we make.

1. Photo to Digital Design

Once you upload a photo, it’s converted into a custom digital design created specifically for engraving. Rather than copying the photograph, the focus is on your pet’s shape, expression, and defining features - the details that make them recognisable.

Lighting, colour, and background are stripped away so the design works naturally in metal.

2. Building the 3D Depth

For 3D sculpted pieces, the design is transformed into a layered depth map. Different areas are assigned different depths - raised areas, recessed areas, and fine surface detail.

This step is what gives the final piece its dimensional look and tactile feel, rather than appearing flat or printed.

3. Laser Engraved in Layers

Each pendant is engraved using a precision fibre laser, working through multiple controlled passes. The portrait is gradually built layer by layer, allowing depth and detail to develop naturally.

This layered process is what creates a true 3D engraving, not a single surface mark.

4. Finished by Hand

After engraving, every pendant is carefully checked, hand-finished, polished, and packaged before being sent out.

Because the design is engraved directly into the metal, it won’t fade, peel, or wear away over time.

Why This Matters

This process takes longer than standard engraving, but the result is a piece that’s detailed, durable, and made to last, something you can wear every day without worrying about it losing definition.

Each necklace is made one at a time, with the same care and attention as the very first piece.