A name necklace looks like magic, but the process is surprisingly simple once you break it down: get a proper cut file, pick a material, cut it on the right machine, finish the edges, add a chain. This guide walks through each step - including the parts most tutorials skip, like why your file must be a single connected piece and why the machine type matters more than the machine brand.
Step 1 - Get a laser-ready design file
Everything starts with a vector file (SVG or DXF) of the name. You have four realistic options:
- A name-necklace generator. Tools like GemTheName’s designer render any name - Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati or English - as a welded single-piece outline with jump-ring loops already placed, and export both SVG and DXF. Fastest path by far: the preview is free and a finished file costs a few dollars.
- Ready-made designs. If the name is popular, a pre-made design may already exist - usually with product photos included.
- A freelancer. Custom DXF gigs exist on Fiverr for $5-20, but turnaround is measured in days and single-piece quality varies - inspect the file before cutting.
- DIY in Illustrator/Inkscape. Type the name in a connected script font, convert to outlines, unite everything, then manually bridge any floating pieces. Expect a couple of hours the first time - we wrote a whole guide on why the welding step matters.
Step 2 - Choose your material
- Brass (1-1.5 mm) - the classic. Cuts cleanly, polishes to a warm gold look, takes gold plating beautifully. The default for jewellery.
- Gold-plated stainless steel (1 mm) - harder wearing than brass, keeps its finish longer; slightly harder to cut.
- Sterling silver or gold (1-2 mm) - for real jewellery pieces; you’ll be working with a jewellery workshop and their fiber laser.
- Acrylic (2-3 mm) - cheap, colourful, great for trend pieces, kids’ jewellery and keychains. Cuts on almost any laser.
- Plywood/MDF (3 mm) - for keychains, bag charms and décor rather than necklaces.
Step 3 - Match the machine to the material
This is where most first attempts go wrong. Lasers are not interchangeable:
- Fiber lasers cut metal - brass, steel, silver, gold. Every jewellery workshop and most industrial laser shops run one.
- CO₂ lasers (including Glowforge) cut acrylic, wood and leather - but not metal sheet. A Glowforge can engrave coated metal, not cut it.
- Diode lasers (many hobby xTool/Atomstack models) handle wood and dark acrylic; bare brass reflects their beam.
- Waterjet cuts anything, including thick metal, with zero heat marks - overkill for pendants but flawless.
No machine? No problem - nearly every city has laser-cutting services. Search “laser cutting near me” or ask a local jeweller; hand them the DXF and ask for a quote in your chosen material. A single pendant typically costs very little to cut.
Step 4 - Always cut one test piece
Machines, kerf (the width the beam burns away) and materials all vary. Before a production run - or an expensive metal - cut one test piece in a cheap material at final size. Check that the smallest details survived, the bridges held, and the loops are clean. Adjust size if needed: our sizing guide covers 30 vs 40 vs 50 mm.
Step 5 - Finishing
- Deburr: a few passes with fine sandpaper (400-800 grit) on the edges removes cutting burrs.
- Polish: for brass, a rotary tumbler with steel shot (2-3 hours) or a polishing wheel gives the mirror look; by hand, metal polish and a cloth get you most of the way.
- Plate or lacquer (optional): gold plating over brass is inexpensive at any plating shop; a clear lacquer slows tarnish if you skip plating.
Step 6 - Assembly
Open two jump rings (3-4 mm), hook one through each loop of the pendant, attach the chain ends, close the rings with two pliers. A 45 cm (18″) chain is the standard women’s length. Done - a real name necklace.
What it costs (typical single piece)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Cut file (generator) | $1-4.99 (credits vs single) |
| Brass + laser cutting (local shop) | $2-6 |
| Chain + jump rings | $1-3 |
| Polish/plating (optional) | $1-5 |
Compare that with the $25-45 finished name necklaces sell for, and you can see why resellers build whole shops on this.
Start with the file
The design is the only step that needs special tooling - and it’s the one you can do right now. Type any name in the designer and see it as a welded, laser-ready pendant in seconds; Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati names get correctly-spelled native script via live transliteration.