Many cultures have a superstitious belief that anything new, precious, or beautiful must be protected from the envy of others, otherwise it will be jinxed with the Evil Eye. They believe such a look can cause injury or bad luck for the person at whom it is directed, out of envy or dislike.
To ward off the Evil Eye, these cultures developed jewelry featuring a blue stone shaped to look like an eye. The jewelry can be elaborate or consist of just a glass bead or turquoise or lapis stone in a simple setting.
The Evil Eye is also known as “Mal de ojo.” Mediterranean cultures and many others around the world believe in the concept, and especially protect newborn babies by pinning blue stones to their clothes. In many Latin American countries, parents will tie a red ribbon around the child’s wrist or ankle. In the Middle East the blue stone is often combined with the image of a hand, known as the Hand of Fatima, or khamsa.
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