Few pieces of jewelry carry as much meaning in South Florida as a San Lázaro pendant. Whether you know him as Saint Lazarus, San Lázaro, or Babalú-Ayé, this is one of the most requested religious pieces we handle at DD Pawn Loans in Pompano Beach — and one of the hardest to find in solid gold at the right weight. This guide covers what the pendant means, how karat changes the price, what sizes are out there, and exactly how to tell a quality piece from a disappointing one.
Who is San Lázaro?
In the Catholic tradition, Saint Lazarus is venerated as a protector of the sick and the poor, usually shown on crutches with dogs at his feet. In Afro-Cuban tradition, he is closely associated with Babalú-Ayé, and his feast day on December 17 draws some of the most devoted observance you'll see anywhere. For many families across Miami-Dade and Broward, a gold San Lázaro isn't just jewelry — it's a promise, a thank-you for a healing, or a piece passed down through a family. That meaning is exactly why buying one in real, tested gold matters so much.
10K vs 14K vs 18K: what changes
San Lázaro pendants are made in every common karat, and the karat drives both the color and the price:
- 10K gold (41.7% pure) — the most affordable and the most durable for a heavy, detailed medallion. Slightly lighter yellow. The most common karat we see in larger San Lázaro pieces.
- 14K gold (58.5% pure) — richer yellow, a step up in gold content and price. A popular balance of color and value.
- 18K gold (75% pure) — deep, saturated yellow and the highest gold content of the three. Softer, so more common in mid-weight pieces than in the heaviest medallions.
Because a pendant's gold value is simply weight × purity × the day's gold price, a 40-gram 10K medallion and a 25-gram 14K medallion can land at surprisingly similar prices. That's why the number that matters most isn't the karat alone — it's the karat and the exact gram weight together. Want to see how those two numbers turn into a real dollar figure? Try our gold estimator.
Size and weight: from everyday to statement piece
San Lázaro pendants run a huge range. A small everyday medal might be a few grams; a full chest-piece medallion can weigh well over 100 grams of solid gold. Our religious-pendant case has ranged from roughly 13-gram daily-wear pieces up to a rare 119-gram solid 10K San Lázaro — the kind of depth most jewelry stores and pawn shops simply don't stock. Browse what's in the case right now in our Religious Pendants collection.
A heavier pendant needs a chain that can carry it. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the medallion, the thicker the chain it deserves — both so it hangs right and so the bail doesn't wear through. Pair a statement San Lázaro with a solid rope or Miami Cuban from our Gold Chains collection.
Solid vs hollow: how to tell what you're really buying
This is where buyers get burned. Two San Lázaro pendants can look identical and weigh very differently — because one is solid and the other is hollow or heavily backed-out. Here's what to check:
- Weight in the hand. Solid gold feels dense and heavier than it looks. If a big medallion feels light, ask why.
- The back. A quality piece has a clean, finished back; hollow pieces often have thin walls or open sections.
- The stamp. Look for a karat stamp (10K, 14K, 417, 585, 750). A stamp is a claim, not proof — which is why testing matters.
- The test. A real gold buyer confirms karat with an electronic tester, not just the stamp. We Sigma-test every pendant and weigh it on camera before it's ever listed, and the exact karat and gram weight go in every product description. No guessing.
Why buy a San Lázaro from a pawn shop?
Because you pay for the gold, not the mall markup. Our pendants come straight from the community through pawn and estate buys, so they're priced against real gold weight and market value. Every piece is authenticated on camera, and if we wouldn't buy it back as real gold, we don't sell it. You can see any pendant in person at our Pompano Beach store, or order online with fully insured shipping. Please note that all sales are final — so we're happy to send extra photos or a live video before you commit.
Have one to sell?
If you're on the other side of the counter and thinking about selling a San Lázaro or any gold pendant, we buy — and we pay by weight and karat at live gold prices, up to 90% of melt on our mail-in gold program, or bring it into the shop. Either way, you'll see it tested and weighed, not lowballed.
DD Pawn Loans — 2751 W Atlantic Blvd #101, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 · (561) 774-9292. Every piece tested on camera.