This pendant by Daniela Villegas is made of gold, semi-precious stones, and beetle wings. Before you go “ew!” a reminder that incorporating animal parts into jewellery is nothing new. Teeth and claws (and fur) were prehistoric adornments. The Victorians used paws, claws, and entire beetles (scarabs) in their pieces, as well as being quite fond of animal motifs such as serpents, which represent eternity. What goes around comes around…

Villegas’s collection includes wood, feathers, and other natural materials.  Using diamonds, rubies, tourmaline, rudolite and the aforementioned wings, Villegas offers this necklace for USD $9,750, available at LA’s Roseark.