Complete set60 cm chain included2 finishes
In short: the format worn by soldiers and by the Army's boxers, here in boxing colours, chain included. 3 cm / 1.18 in dog tag carrying a pair of gloves in polished relief, brushed blank reverse, 60 cm / 24 in round box chain included, about 27 g / 0.95 oz. Choice of gold tone or silver tone. €19, free standard shipping.
On 14 January 1942 Joe Louis, the reigning world heavyweight champion, enlisted in the US Army under his legal name, Joe Louis Barrow. He never saw combat, but he fought 96 exhibition bouts in front of roughly two million troops, dog tag at his neck.
Relief, not engraving
The gloves stand proud of the plate, fully modelled and mirror polished. The field behind them is grained and matte, so it scatters light while the gloves catch it, and that contrast is what keeps the motif readable from three metres / ten feet away.
The border is smooth and slightly domed, punched with a row of small engraved stars along the top and bottom edges, about six per row. The nod to the military format shows up when you look at the piece close to.
A brushed, blank reverse
The back of the tag is completely smooth, satin brushed, with no motif and no lettering. On the originals this was the face that carried name, service number and blood type. Here it stays bare, which leaves the surface free if you take the piece to an engraver.
A complete set, chain included
The necklace ships with its 60 cm / 24 in round box chain in the same finish as the plate. A round box chain is built from square links with softened edges, running as an even cord: it holds a pendant flat and will not twist. At 60 cm the tag sits high on the sternum, visible over a t-shirt or an open collar.
Gold or silver tone
The two finishes are identical apart from colour. Gold tone is warmer and reads more strongly against darker skin and dark clothing. Silver tone sits well with a steel watch or bracelet. If you already wear other pieces, stay in the same metal family.
Size and weight
Technical specifications
Good to know: gold tone and silver tone are surface finishes. To keep them sharp, wipe the plate with a soft cloth after wear, put perfume on before jewellery, and take the necklace off for the shower and for training. The chain ships in 60 cm / 24 in; the bail takes standard links if you prefer a shorter drop.
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Complete the set
Frequently asked questions
Does it come with a chain?
Yes. The necklace ships complete with its 60 cm / 24 in round box chain, in the same finish as the plate, gold tone or silver tone depending on the version. Nothing else to buy.
Can the dog tag be engraved?
The back of the plate is brushed, smooth and blank across its whole surface, so it is available for an engraver or a jeweller to work on. We do not offer engraving: the piece ships as it is, with the raised motif on the front and a bare reverse.
How big is the dog tag?
The plate is 3 cm / 1.18 in, the standard dog tag format, for a total weight of about 27 g / 0.95 oz with the 60 cm / 24 in chain. At that size the raised pair of gloves reads from three metres / ten feet, and the border stars read up close.
Gold or silver — which should I pick?
The two versions are identical apart from colour: same 3 cm plate, same relief, same 60 cm chain. Gold tone reads more strongly against darker skin and dark clothing; silver tone matches steel watches and bracelets. The simplest rule is to stay in the metal family you already wear.
Where does the dog tag pendant come from?
From the military identity tag worn at the neck, stamped with name, service number and blood type. The shape crossed from the barracks to the street in the 1990s and settled in as a staple of men's jewellery. Here the face that carried the identity carries the gloves instead, and the reverse stays blank.
How do I look after it?
A dry soft cloth after wear is enough, going over the grained field where dust settles. Put perfume on before jewellery, take the necklace off for the shower and for training, and store it in a pouch rather than in open air. No ultrasonic bath and no silver dip.
Boxing's dog tag
3 cm / 1.18 in plate with gloves in polished relief, star border, blank brushed reverse, 60 cm / 24 in chain included, gold or silver tone. Free standard shipping.
