JTR Education · Components & design
One compact form. Three finishes. A considered starting point for personalisation, pendants and charms.
The mini dog tag is a flat jewellery component with rounded corners and a drilled attachment hole. In this range, the tag measures approximately 12 × 7mm, with a thickness of approximately 0.8mm. Choose the surface finish and attachment format together: both affect how the component becomes part of a finished piece.
Compare the finishes
The three blanks below share the same nominal tag size. Product photographs illustrate form and colour; they are not a scale drawing.
Sterling silver
The silver surface keeps the material description simple. Plan the scale and position of any inscription before work begins.
18ct gold plated sterling silver
A yellow gold surface over sterling silver. The plating is a finish on the silver component.
18ct rose gold plated sterling silver
A rose gold surface gives the same compact form a different colour. Assess any surface work against the intended finish.
Choose the attachment format
A blank is supplied with the drilled hole for a fitting chosen as part of the design. The fitted version includes a 5mm jump ring. Check the ring opening and the dimensions of the chain end or connector: a nominal ring size does not guarantee that a particular chain will pass through it.
Plan personalisation before choosing the surface
A 12 × 7mm tag calls for restraint. Lay out the inscription at actual size, allowing space around the hole and edges. Character count alone does not establish whether a name, date or symbol will read clearly: typeface, letter height, spacing and the chosen process all matter.
Unplated sterling silver avoids a separate coloured surface layer. On a plated tag, engraving that cuts through the coating can expose the silver underneath. Stamping can also affect the finish and shape. Agree the intended appearance and process with the engraver; a plated blank should not be treated as a promise of a uniform gold-coloured result after personalisation.
Record the inscription, orientation, process and finish in the project brief. If the design requires personalisation before plating or a finish to be restored afterwards, establish that sequence before ordering or working the component.
Describe the material precisely
For the plated versions, sterling silver identifies the underlying material and 18ct gold plated or 18ct rose gold plated describes the surface. Keep both parts of that description when presenting the finished piece. A gold-coloured finish does not make the component solid gold.
Before specifying a tag
- Confirm tag dimensions and thickness separately from the jump ring.
- Choose the metal description and surface finish.
- Check the required attachment and its fit.
- Establish whether the listing includes a ring; chains and additional fittings are separate unless stated.
- Agree personalisation and finishing before the component is worked.
Continue your knowledge
Develop these checks in Reading Product Specifications and Building a Project Brief, within JTR Education & Knowledge.
JTR product photography throughout. Product dimensions are approximate; consult each listing for current details. Further reading: British Hallmarking Council guidance on descriptions of gold plated silver. Reviewed October 2026.