Pendants

Necklaces and pendants have been an integral part of jewellery since the time of ancient civilizations and pre-date the invention of writing. The word pendant comes from the Old French word "pendre" and the Latin word "pendere" which means "to hang down". The birth of necklaces is believed to be as old as the Stone Age, which is around 40,000 years old. The oldest necklaces were made of purely natural materials. One of the earliest types of bodily adornment is the pendant. Primeval man liked to put a tiny hole in a beautiful rock and slip a string usually made of grass or vine so it could be hung around the neck. Shells and other indigenous materials could also be used. In Ancient Egypt, Pharaohs normally wore scarab beetle pendants to symbolize their wealth and power.