The dragon is roaring. The rider is not holding on.
The Samurai Riding Dragon Pendant is free-cut openwork — no plate behind it, no frame around it. The outline is whatever the dragon and the rider happen to make, which is why the piece reads as a sculpture rather than a picture of one.
The dragon takes the lower two thirds and its head takes the left. The jaws are open on a full set of teeth with the tongue curled behind them, horns swept back, whiskers trailing, and the mane spiking up in cut strands behind the skull. The scaled body turns down and back through the centre, and a clawed forefoot comes down at the bottom with the talons spread. The tail sweeps out to the right and finishes the silhouette.
The samurai sits high on the shoulders, and the armour is where the fine work went: a crested helmet, flared neck guard, layered lamellar plates across the chest, and skirt panels over the thighs, each row cut separately. His blade is out, held low across the body and running clear of the dragon’s back to the upper right.
Everything is satin with the bail left bright. At 9.5g in 18K it is one of the lightest pieces in the catalogue — a genuine everyday pendant rather than a statement weight, which is unusual for a design with this much going on in it.
The pairing is a Japanese reading of an older Chinese idea: the dragon as the power that cannot be owned, the rider as the discipline that can borrow it for a while. Neither one is in charge.
Why You’ll Love It:
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Free-Cut Openwork – No backing plate; the outline is the two figures
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Roaring Head, Full Size – Open jaws, teeth, horns and cut mane filling the left
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Row-by-Row Armour – Crested helmet, neck guard, lamellar chest and skirt plates
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Blade Drawn – Held low and running clear of the dragon’s back
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Everyday Weight – 9.5g in 18K for a design this involved
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Solid Gold Throughout – No stones and no plating
Chain not included.
Made to order, turnaround time is typically 2-4 weeks.
Specifications
| Dimensions |
31.5mm × 24mm (1.24” × 0.94”), not including bail |
| Chain Fit |
Up to 3.5mm |
| Chain |
Not included |
Estimated Weight by Purity
| Purity |
Approx. Weight |
| 10K |
7.1g |
| 14K |
8.1g |
| 18K |
9.5g |
| 22K |
11.0g |
| 24K |
11.9g |
Approximate Weight Notice
Due to the handcrafted nature of our jewelry and natural variations in gold alloys, listed weights are approximate. Minor differences may occur from piece to piece. These variations are a normal part of fine jewelry production and reflect the individuality of each item. For any changes or questions, please use the "Custom Work" page.
