Harmony ball necklace: what it is and why it has so many names

Short answer: A harmony ball is a hollow pendant with a small bell inside that chimes softly as you move. Bola, angel caller, chime ball and pregnancy bell are other names for the same necklace.

How a harmony ball works

A harmony ball is a hollow metal ball with a small bell or bead inside. When you move, the bell touches the walls of the ball and makes a light, steady chime. You wear it on a long chain, so it hangs over the bump rather than at the collarbone.

Two shapes are common. A smooth ball is a plain sphere, polished or brushed. A cage is an openwork pendant, often with a pattern, that holds the ball inside. Cages let more sound out and look more ornate. Smooth balls look cleaner and are easier to wipe clean.

Other names for the same necklace

Shopping for one is confusing because sellers use different names for the same jewellery. These all describe a chiming pendant worn in pregnancy:

Whatever the label, check the same things before you buy: the metal, the size, the chain length and the sound. We list them in the pregnancy necklace buyer’s guide.

Where it comes from

Nobody can point to a firm historical record, so treat the origin as folklore. Two stories are told most often.

• Bali and Indonesia. Silver work and protective bells have a long tradition there, and pendants like this are still made on the island.
• Mexico. The necklace is known as llamador de ángeles, which is where the English name “angel caller” comes from.

In Europe the necklace spread through word of mouth and shops, and it is now a familiar pregnancy gift.

What it is said to mean

The idea behind the name is that the chime calls guardian angels to watch over the baby. You do not need to believe that to enjoy the jewellery. Most women who wear one describe something simpler: a small sound that reminds them of the baby during the day, and a keepsake of a particular time.

Does the baby hear it?

Babies start to react to sound in the second half of pregnancy. You will often read that the chime soothes them, but there is no good evidence for that, so we won’t say it. It is kinder to the jewellery to describe it honestly: it makes a pretty sound that you can hear, and it is a keepsake.

Who wears one, and when

Most are worn from around the fifth month, either bought by the mum herself or given by a partner, a sister or a friend. They are a popular baby shower present and a common gift to announce a pregnancy. After the birth many women keep wearing theirs, or put it away for the baby to have later. For a second baby, you can simply wear the same one again. More in what to do after the birth.

Questions people ask