Scarab charm meaning: why it was worn in ancient Egypt and how to wear one now
Worn in ancient Egypt, and how to wear one now.
In ancient Egypt the scarab beetle stood for the rising sun, renewal and protection, and it was worn and buried as an amulet. People wear a scarab charm today for protection and for new beginnings. Ilene Joy makes two in solid gold: the Pharos Scarab Charm from $1,060 and the Guardian Scarab Charm from $1,190.
What the scarab meant in Egypt
The Egyptians watched the scarab beetle roll a ball of dung across the ground. They saw the sun's path across the sky in it, and linked the beetle to Khepri, the god believed to roll the sun up at dawn. That is why the scarab became a sign of renewal and of the cycle of life (Wikipedia summarizes the sources).
Scarabs were used in three main ways:
- As protection. Groups of scarabs were placed with the dead, and were believed to protect a mummy. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has an essay on Egyptian amulets.
- As heart scarabs. From the early New Kingdom, a larger scarab was placed on the mummy and inscribed to keep the heart from speaking against its owner at the weighing of the heart.
- As stamps. The flat underside of a scarab could be carved and pressed into clay. Scarabs became popular around 2000 BC and stayed in use for the rest of the pharaonic era.
So a scarab was part ornament, part amulet and part signature. It was made to be carried.
What it means as a charm now
A scarab charm stands for protection and for beginning again. People choose one for a new job, a new home, or the far side of a hard year. We list it under protection, as we do the hamsa and the protective eye. If you want to compare it with those symbols, read protection jewelry: which symbol to choose.
The meaning is a tradition and a reason to choose the piece. It is not a promise, and we do not claim a charm changes what happens to you.
Two scarabs, side by side
Prices are for 14K yellow gold, as of 19 October 2026. They follow the daily gold rate.
| Pharos Scarab Charm | Guardian Scarab Charm | |
|---|---|---|
| The design | A pavé-set diamond charm in the traditional Egyptian scarab form | Fully encrusted with pavé diamonds, the ancient scarab reimagined, its shell shimmering |
| Small | $1,060 | $1,190 |
| Medium | $1,721 | $1,931 |
| Large | $2,310 | $2,592 |
| 18K, Small | $1,378 | $1,547 |
Choose the Pharos if you want the shape as the Egyptians carved it. Choose the Guardian if you want the whole surface set with diamonds.
How to wear one
- One Small scarab on a fine chain. A quiet piece close to the neck. A Petite oval chain at 16 inches is $635, so a Pharos Scarab Charm comes to $1,695.
- A Small on a paperclip chain. The graphic links frame the beetle. A Petite paperclip at 16 inches is $998, so the Pharos Scarab Charm in Small comes to $2,058.
- With a protective eye. A scarab and an eye make a small arrangement with one purpose. Keep a clear run of chain between them.
- On a bracelet. The scarab sits on the wrist, where you can see it. Bracelets are priced differently, and we list them in build your own charm bracelet online.
The six chains are compared in which chain is best for charms.
See it on before it is made
- Open Design your own and choose Design a necklace or Design a bracelet.
- Choose a chain, a link weight, a gold and a length or wrist size.
- Tap Choose your charms, tap a scarab and drag it into place.
- Change its size and its gold, and look at the On model view.
The page calls the preview "a creative visualization, not an exact representation." We confirm every detail with you after you order. For the steps, read how to design your own charm necklace. Open the necklace builder or the bracelet builder. Each piece is made to order at our Los Angeles bench in 2 to 4 weeks.
About Ilene Joy
Ilene Joy has designed jewelry since 1996. Ilene designed jewelry for the last three seasons of Sex and the City, as WWD reported in February 2019. She relaunched the label that year with her daughter, Rae Scheer, and Vogue covered the launch. Zoë Kravitz, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence, Sienna Miller, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Taylor Swift, Emily Blunt, Emily Ratajkowski and Candice Swanepoel have worn Ilene Joy: see who wears Ilene Joy. Every design you build is made to order at our Los Angeles bench in 2 to 4 weeks. More on who Ilene Joy is and the press coverage.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
What does a scarab symbolize?
In ancient Egypt it stood for the rising sun, renewal and protection. As a charm today it stands for protection and new beginnings.
What does a scarab necklace mean?
It usually means protection and a fresh start. People wear it for a new start, for where they come from, or simply because they love the shape.
Why was the scarab important to ancient Egyptians?
The Egyptians linked the beetle that rolls a ball across the ground to the god Khepri and the sun's daily rise. It became a sign of renewal. Scarabs were worn, buried with the dead and used as stamps.
What is the difference between the Pharos and Guardian scarab charms?
The Pharos Scarab Charm follows the traditional Egyptian scarab form and is pavé-set with diamonds. The Guardian Scarab Charm is fully encrusted with pavé diamonds. The Pharos is $1,060 in Small and the Guardian is $1,190, as of 19 October 2026.
Which scarab costs less?
The Pharos Scarab Charm, at $1,060 in 14K yellow gold in Small. The chain is extra.
Can I see a scarab charm on a chain before I buy?
Yes. In the Ilene Joy builder you add the scarab to a chain, drag it into place and look at it on a model, with the price updating as you choose.
