People almost never engrave a sentence on jewellery. Of the last several hundred engravings we made, almost half were a single name, a quarter an initial, a seventh a date. Full sentences accounted for one per cent. The typical engraving has five characters. Once you know that, you stop looking for the perfect quote and look instead for the one word, the one number or the one character that belongs to that person.
This page shows what our customers actually have engraved, what fits on which piece, and when less is more. The examples are real; we have changed the names and dates.
What fits on a piece of jewellery
The surface sets the limit, not the idea. As a rough guide: one character per millimetre of disc.
| Surface | Space | Typical engraving |
|---|---|---|
| 8 mm disc | 8 characters or one symbol | Anna · L · 2026 |
| 10 mm disc | 10 characters or one symbol; on some pieces, text above a symbol | Anna ♥ · 01.01.26 |
| 12 to 14 mm disc | 12 characters, two lines possible | Anna / 01.01.2026 |
| Engravable bead with 4 or 6 sides | 12 characters per side | Anna · Paul · ♥ · 01.01.2026 |
| Bar, lengthwise | up to 25 characters | Forever my home |
| Back of a locket or of the coordinates necklace | up to 100 characters for a dedication | a short sentence with a date |
In every product's engraving window, you can see how many characters you have left as you type, and the preview shows the engraving on the piece. A symbol usually counts as two characters.
One character: the initial
A single letter is the most common engraving after the name, and the most understated. L, A, S and M top the list. Two initials with an ampersand, A&V, are the shortest way to represent a couple. On the family necklace, the initials of all family members are grouped around a heart; exactly how that works is explained in the family engraving guide.
Initials work wherever the piece is small or wherever several people need to fit: mini discs, signet rings, stud earrings.
One word: the name
The first name is by far the most common engraving. Children's and christening jewellery almost always bears the child's name; jewellery for adults often bears the name of the person it is meant to bring to mind. Pet names are just as popular as real names: Mummy, Darling, Mr Right, Favourite person. Roles work too: Mum, Grandma, Dad, Godmother.
A six-letter name fits on any 8 mm disc. For long double-barrelled names, the second line or the back helps.
One number: the date
The date is the engraving that will still be true in twenty years' time. Three formats are common, and we see all three regularly:
- 01.01.2026, written out in full. Needs 10 characters; fits on 10 mm discs and all reverse sides.
- 01.01.26, short form. 8 characters; fits on any disc.
- I · I · MMXXVI, in Roman numerals. Looks like a pattern and gives nothing away to strangers. The most popular choice for anniversaries and couples' jewellery.
Sometimes the year alone is enough: 2026, or a school year such as 2025/26 on a gift for starting school.
A place: coordinates
53° 33′ 58″ N / 10° 01′ 20″ E are the coordinates of a home. Anyone who reads them sees numbers; whoever wears them sees the place. Home, the place you met, your birthplace, your favourite beach: coordinates are a popular engraving on sailing rope bracelets and on the back of family necklaces. The coordinates necklace also includes the map of the place, and you simply enter the address; we take care of the conversion.
Two lines: name and date
The strongest combination in the entire range, especially for christenings and births: the name on the front, the date on the back. Anna on the front, 01.01.2026 on the back. The front of the piece stays understated, and the back tells the story. On pieces with only one side, both go on a 12 mm disc in two lines.
Short phrases that really fit
If you do want more than one word: two to four words is the limit for an engraving to stay legible. This is what our customers write most often:
- Forever
- 40 years of us
- Love, Mum
- We love you
- My home
- Fighter
- Believe in yourself
- Cheers to us
All of them fit on one line on a bar or on two lines on a larger disc. For anything longer, there's the greeting card.
Symbols and what they say
One in two symbol choices is a heart, in one of three sizes. Next come the symbols for protection and faith, then those for places and animals. The twelve chosen most often:
| Symbol | What it usually stands for |
|---|---|
| Mini heart, heart | Love, no explanation needed |
| Double heart | Two who belong together |
| Infinity symbol | Forever |
| Angel | Protection, for christenings and for children |
| Jesus fish | Faith, discreetly |
| Cross | Faith, unmistakably |
| Heart hands | Togetherness, family |
| Paw | The dog, the cat |
| Wave, mountains | The favourite place |
| Anchor | Stability, home port |
| Star | Dreams, wishes |
| Four-leaf clover | Luck, for graduations and fresh starts |
A symbol on its own is a complete engraving. A symbol next to a short name, Anna ♥, is the most common combination on 10 mm discs.
When less is more
Full sentences. On a disc they end up small and busy. A sentence belongs on the back of a locket or on the card.
Two names on 8 mm. Anna Paul fits, but it's tight. Better: initials, or one name per side.
The name plus the date on one line. This is the most common request that doesn't work out. The solution is almost always the back or the second line.
Other scripts. Umlauts, ß and accents are no problem. Arabic, Persian or Chinese characters are possible by arrangement; write to us first.
Emojis. No. That's what the symbols are for.
What goes on the card
The engraving states the fact; the card says why. Alongside a name and date, our customers most often write:
- So you always have us right by your side.
- So glad you're in the world.
- We're always here for you.
Three pieces where almost anything goes
Round disc necklace
Sailing rope bracelet
Bar necklaceFrequently asked questions about engraving
How many characters fit in an engraving?
As a rule of thumb, one character per millimetre: 8 characters on an 8 mm disc, 10 on 10 mm, 12 on 12 mm. Bars hold up to 25 characters, the back of a locket up to 100. The engraving window shows you how much space is left as you type.
What do people engrave most often?
A first name. After that come initials and dates. Full sentences are the exception; short phrases of two to four words fit on bars and larger discs.
Can I have a date engraved in Roman numerals?
Yes. On many pieces, this format is available as a separate option: you enter the date and the conversion happens automatically. 01.01.2026 becomes I · I · MMXXVI.
Does a symbol count as a character?
Yes, usually as two characters. A symbol on its own is a complete engraving; a symbol next to a short name is the most common combination.
Can I have the front and back engraved?
On most discs, yes: the back can be selected as a separate side in the engraving window. Typically, the name goes on the front and the date on the back.
Will I see the engraving beforehand?
Yes. The preview in the engraving window shows your text in the chosen font on the piece, and when you order, you can have a preview emailed to you before production.
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