The Beauty of the Roach Broach
August 23, 2006 by Christina Jones
Filed under Style
The Brains showed us this (not-so) lovely jewelry (?) item available at Black Chandelier this morning. What is it, you might ask? Why, it is a hissing Madagascar cockroach, encrusted with Swarovski crystals, and attached to a little chain that you can pin on your outfit, of course! Nice! For 80 bucks you too can have one of these gems – they eat bananas, and if you feed them and give them water and shelter, you might get lucky and have your jewel for a year.
Now, I am a science girl and I love a cool bug just as much as the next guy – but where is Pam Anderson when we need her??? She always seems to be around when we don’t. Ha ha (really, I love her, but she wouldn’t love me so much, I am afraid, seeing as I would be rocking furs if I didn’t live in sweltering Texas). 
And while I am ranting, look at this model in the picture above. Icky looking fingernails – all that drama in the hair, makeup and outfit – but, I guess, who needs nail polish when you have a Swarovski cockroach on your hand. I do think that a nice nude or french manicure or SOMETHING would make that little buggy look a little nicer, but thats just me.
Please do tell if you have one of these – I would love love love to meet the gal that would rock this bug!
Ugh! That is absolutely disgusting!I’m GLAD I don’t know anyone who has one.
I agree with Glamour Bee..totally disgusting. What sick twisted person would come up with something this stupid? People will buy anything. Stupidity at its highest level. I can think of much better ways to spend $80.00 that is for sure.
if anyone watches americas next top model they modeled these in an epiosde of season 6. one of the girl kissed it.
LOL But it makes for an interesting article, eh?
Thanks for the comments ladies! 
Gross. Now if I knew I could sell jeweled cockroaches, I would have scooped up all the ones roaming my ex-boyfriend’s apartment in Boston when we were dating. One even chased me!
If he only knew the goldmine he was sitting on.
HA.
It gives me the creeps… even if it isn’t real! Just have this thing about bugs, unless they are cute like ladybugs
I have one, and its more than just jewelry its a pet. They are actually really cute and completely harmless (they dont bite or anything). They are also $60 not $80, and i think its actually a really creative idea. I know that i have grown to love mine, and you all might think i am crazy, but if you are ever in the salt lake area you should check out the black chandelier, and see them for yourselves.
Hi Anna – I think its awesome – I am glad to know you are enjoying it. I love pets, and have a ton, but the spiders and bugs are just not my favorite thing, but I definitely think it is cool – if you have a picture, I would LOVE to see it!
I dont own a “jeweled” one, but I do have a few as pets. They are fun, I take them as well as some of my other animals to schools for educational purposes. I may just have to go into the jewelry business seeing how they breed so easily. I could sell them greatly discounted for $20, lol, oh and if you take care of them properly they should last you more than a year. Ive had most of mine for 2 yrs now, and I know they can live 3-4 when taken care of.
I actually used to own one for about two years, luckily for me, I got mine on sale for 50 dollars. I don’t usually love the creepy crawly bugs, but after being convinced to hold one at Black Chandelier in Provo, I HAD to have it. I bought it the next day and he was such a fun little pet and a wonderful accesory.