14ky gold Vintage 6-stone scarab gemstone bracelet. In jewelry and archaeology, scarab gems are semi-precious stones carved into the shape of a beetle. To the ancient Egyptians, they symbolized rebirth, protection, and the sun god Khepri. Scarab jewelry reached its peak in the 1920s, but was revived again in the 1950s to 1970s. Most Vintage scarab jewelry on the market comes from the latter period.