Grand pendentif rond en argent gravé avec le dessin d'un enfant

Having your child's drawing engraved on a piece of jewellery

A little figure with long arms, a house with a smiling sun, a heart carefully coloured in… Children's drawings often end up in a drawer or disappear from the fridge over the years. Having them engraved on a jewel or a keyring keeps that little pencil line intact, and lets you take it everywhere with you. In this guide, we explain in practical terms how to choose the right drawing, how to prepare and photograph it, and which item and metal to choose for your budget.

Why have your child's drawing engraved?

A child's drawing is unique by definition: nobody else can give exactly the same one. That is what makes it such a touching gift for a mum, a dad, grandparents, a godfather or a godmother. Engraved on a pendant, it becomes a keepsake worn every day; engraved on a keyring, it comes along on every journey. And for the child, seeing their own drawing turned into a jewel is often a source of great pride.

It is also a lovely way to mark a milestone: the first nursery-school drawings, a drawing given for a celebration, or a family portrait made at a particular age. A few years later, the jewel will remind you exactly how your child drew at that time.

Which drawing for a beautiful engraving?

Not all drawings lend themselves to engraving in the same way. As our product pages point out, for a sharp result the drawing must have sufficiently thick lines and must not be too complex. Here are some guidelines:

  • Favour outlines: a figure, an animal, a flower or a heart drawn with a confident line looks much better than a very detailed scene.
  • A single subject is often easier to read: on a small pendant, a simple, centred drawing will be easier to recognise than a page full of small elements.
  • Watch out for colouring: the engraving reproduces the drawing in a single tone. So it is the lines that count, not the colours. A drawing coloured in light felt-tip or pale coloured pencil may lose contrast.
  • Think about the size of the jewel: the smaller the item, the simpler the drawing should be. For a slightly busier drawing, go for a large pendant or a large keyring.

How to prepare and photograph the drawing

You don't need to send the original: a photo of the drawing is enough. A few simple steps make all the difference.

  • Go over the lines if needed: if the drawing was made in pencil or coloured pencil, don't hesitate to go over the lines in black felt-tip, as we advise on our product pages. You can also ask your child to redo it directly in felt-tip.
  • Photograph it flat and straight on: lay the sheet on a flat surface and hold your phone parallel to the drawing to avoid distortion.
  • Take care with the light: prefer soft daylight. Avoid full sun, backlighting and cast shadows (from your phone or your hand, for example).
  • Frame it tightly, but without cropping: the drawing should fill most of the photo, without any line being cut off at the edges.

On our side, we rework the photo of the drawing before engraving: the background is removed to showcase the drawing, then the image is optimised with software for maximum contrast. That is why the thickness of the lines is so important: it is what allows the machine to engrave a legible drawing.

Pendant, bracelet or keyring: which item to choose?

The choice of item depends mainly on the person receiving it and how they will wear it.

The pendant is the great classic. Round, heart, rectangle, oval, barrel or pebble: there are many shapes in our collection of jewellery engraved with your child's drawing. For example, the large round silver pendant measures 2.7 cm in diameter, while the small gold-plated rectangle pendant is 2.5 cm high and 1.6 cm wide. Large formats leave more room for detail; small formats suit a very simple drawing.

The bracelet is a discreet alternative for those who don't wear necklaces. Our steel range includes bracelets with an engraved round or heart plate.

The keyring is a particularly popular idea for a dad or a grandfather. Oval, round, square, barrel, rectangle with a heart or clover pattern: find all the models in our selection of keyrings engraved with a child's drawing. The oval keyring, for example, has a 2.8 x 2 cm plate.

Which metal, and at what price?

Here is an overview of the different ranges available, with the starting prices shown in our shop:

Depending on the model, options are available: text engraved on the back of the plate, gift box and card. Details and prices of these options are shown on each product page.

Our tips for a successful gift

  • Combine the drawing with a name or a date: when the model allows it, text on the back (the child's name, their age when they made the drawing) gives the jewel even more meaning.
  • One drawing per jewel: on small formats, our product pages recommend a single drawing. If you have several children, consider several medals or several keyrings instead.
  • Involve your child… or keep it a surprise: asking for a “special gift” drawing is a lovely way to involve them in the project. But you can also choose from drawings you have already kept for a complete surprise.
  • Plan ahead for the holidays: an engraved child's drawing is a much-loved gift at Christmas, for Father's Day, Mother's Day or Grandmother's Day. Ordering a little in advance gives you time to choose the drawing and take a good photo.

A question about your drawing?

Unsure between two drawings, not sure whether the lines are thick enough or which size would work best? Since 2006, our family business in northern France has been helping its customers personalise their engraved jewellery and objects. Feel free to contact us: we will gladly help you turn your child's drawing into a keepsake to treasure.

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