Scarab Jewelry Meaning: The Ancient Egyptian Symbol of Protection and Rebirth

Look closely at the cobalt coin in the Saltwater Spell collection and you'll see a small beetle: the scarab. It's one of the oldest talismans in the world, and one of the most meaningful you can wear. Here's the story behind it.

What is a scarab?

The scarab is the dung beetle, a small insect that rolls a ball of earth across the ground. Ancient Egyptians watched it do this and saw something bigger: the beetle pushing the sun across the sky. The god Khepri, who was shown with a scarab for a head, was said to roll the sun up over the horizon each morning. That made the scarab a symbol of renewal, new beginnings and coming back after the dark.

A talisman for protection and rebirth

Scarabs were among the most popular amulets in ancient Egypt, carved from stone, faience and semi-precious gems and worn as rings, pendants and seals. Many were buried with their owners. A special "heart scarab" was placed over the heart of the deceased to protect it on the journey to the afterlife. Across all of these uses, the idea stayed the same: the scarab guards the wearer and carries them through change.

Why blue?

Blue was a prized color in Egypt, linked with the sky, the Nile and rebirth. Many scarabs were made in deep blue faience or lapis. A cobalt scarab carries both ideas together: protection and renewal, in the color of deep water.

What the scarab means today

Today the scarab is worn for the same reasons it always was. It's a talisman for anyone starting over, getting through a hard season, or choosing to keep coming back stronger. It also makes a meaningful gift for a graduation, a new job, a move, or any new chapter.

How to wear scarab jewelry

• As a charm necklace: a scarab at the collarbone works as an everyday talisman.
• As earrings: a scarab on each hoop is a quiet, personal detail.
• Layered with other talismans: scarab, serpent, fish and pearl together tell a story, which is the idea behind charm necklaces.

The scarab in the Saltwater Spell collection

In the Saltwater Spell Charm Necklace, a cobalt enamel scarab coin with a CZ center hangs beside a coiled serpent, a CZ-studded fish and a freshwater pearl, all between sparkling CZ baguette rondelles. The matching Saltwater Spell earrings carry the scarab too, arranged differently on each ear. Every piece is 18k gold-filled and hand-assembled in Miami, and you can save 15% on the set.

Not sure which talisman is yours? Take the quiz to find your piece.