The Meaning Behind Evil Eye Jewelry

You've probably seen the blue-and-white eye on bracelets, necklaces, doorways, keychains—pretty much everywhere. It's become incredibly popular in jewelry, but the evil eye isn't a new trend at all. The symbol has been around for thousands of years in different cultures, particularly around the Mediterranean and Middle East.

The basic idea is that an envious or ill-intentioned look can bring bad luck. The eye-shaped amulet, often called a nazar, is traditionally worn as a form of protection against that negativity.

So what does it mean when you wear one?

That depends on the person wearing it, and we actually like that about the symbol.

For some people it's connected to family, culture or a belief they've grown up with. For someone else, it may simply be a reminder to protect their peace and not carry other people's negativity around with them. And yes, some people just think the eye is beautiful. You don't need a complicated reason to wear jewelry you like.

It's also why evil eye pieces make such nice gifts. Giving someone a symbol traditionally associated with protection has a little more thought behind it than simply saying, “I thought this was pretty”—although there's nothing wrong with that either.

Does the color matter?

The deep blue eye is the version most people recognize, but you'll see the motif in all kinds of colors and styles now. Different traditions and modern interpretations sometimes attach meanings to individual colors. We wouldn't get too hung up on rules. If one catches your eye, that's probably the one you'll actually enjoy wearing.

Jewelry gets more interesting when there's a story attached to it. The evil eye happens to have a very old one.

You can explore our Evil Eye & Protection collection, including the Evil Eye Protection Bracelet.