Penca de BalangandanOld Silver Penca de Balangandan The Penca de Balangandan, roughly translated as bouquet of charms that jingle, is a predecessor of the modern charm bracelet originating in 17th century Bahia province, Brazil. Portuguese plantation owners awarded the Penca to favoured enslaved Africans, who wore them attached to heavy chain belts or for special occasions on their wrists. The charms held specific magical, medicinal or religious meanings, often