sceptimatic: the pendulum has to be in motion relative to the earth in order for the Coriolis force to cause it to rotate. If you just lift it up on its wire, then absolutely nothing will happen, because it will just continue moving with the earth the same way it was when it was sitting on the floor.
jroa: there are pendulums that do not use magnets at all, and still swing for hours. Stop ignoring them.