Is it just there to look Goth?

I've often been asked about the skull and cross bones at the base of these pectoral crucifixes. To many people they don't make sense; other than adding a cool gothic or piratey touch, what is it there for?

I'm always glad they ask because the tradition of putting the skull and cross bones at the base of a crucifix is a very important one, one that really emphasizes the message behind the symbol itself. The symbol of Christ crucified is important to Christians because it represents the sacrifice made, the life of Jesus in exchange for their sin. There are subtle differences in the way different denominations of Christianity focus on this sacrifice (the crucifix is very important to Catholics, but you won't see a crucified Jesus at a Baptist church for instance), but for all of them it is a crucial aspect of the faith.

What happened after the crucifixion though is also important to Christians. Christ rising from the dead three days later, the celebration of Easter, and His establishment of the church is, of course, a very important part of the Gospels that is not normally represented by the crucifix. The placement of the skull and crossbones, representing death, at the base of the cross, below Jesus, is a way of adding this most significant aspect of His sacrifice to the crucifix. It represents Jesus' triumph over death by literally placing Him above it; a symbol within a symbol.