Over the past few years, the Evil Eye has evolved from being just a protective talisman meant to ward off bad luck, envy, or evil into a cultural and fashion phenomenon. Once rooted primarily in spiritual and cultural traditions, the symbol has found a new place in modern style. Wearing the Evil Eye on jewelry has become increasingly popular, making appearances not only in high-end fashion but also as a staple in everyday accessories. Its widespread appeal has also been fueled by viral TikTok trends.
Before the Evil Eye Jewelry
While most common in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Latin American cultures, the Evil Eye has become a global trend. The Evil Eye, which is a cultural, religious, and superstitious phenomenon, is fueled by envy, hatred, anger, or negative energy. Someone can give another person the Evil Eye when they look at them when they have something worth coveting. The Evil Eye can manifest in three forms: the unconscious Evil Eye, which can cause harm or bad luck to others without the person intentionally meaning to do so; the conscious Evil Eye, where a person intentionally seeks to cause harm or bad luck to others; and finally, the most dangerous kind, the unseen Evil Eye, which occurs when a person harbors a conscious intent to harm others, but this desire remains secret.
The earliest depiction of the Evil Eye dates back to Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, though it has also been found in ancient Greek and Roman cultures. The Evil Eye is even represented in some religions, such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. To this day, people still paint the Evil Eye on doors and walls, hang up Evil Eye talismans in their homes, or wear jewelry with Evil Eye amulets to protect themselves and ward off evil.
Evil Eye Jewelry Today
In 2024, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia declared Evil Eye jewelry “The Ultimate Summer Accessory.” High-end jewelry brands such as Lorraine Schwartz, Swarovski, Ounass, Michael Kors, and Alex and Ani began including Evil Eye designs in their own pieces. Creating the dark blue Evil Eye with gemstones, crystals, sapphires, and diamonds, the Evil Eye has become more of a fashion statement than a way to ward off evil. Celebrities such as Meghan Markle, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Gigi Hadid have all worn or included the Evil Eye into their own outfits, increasing its popularity.
What Do the Different Colors of Evil Eyes Mean?
While dark blue Evil Eyes are the most popular and most common, the Evil Eye can also appear in different colors and variations. People can wear different colored beads or jewelry together to create a more fashionable look or to provide themselves with more good luck and protection. According to legend, receiving Evil Eye jewelry from a loved one could even enhance its powers due to the fact that the person gifting it is providing you with good luck, peace, and protection—the exact opposite effects of someone giving another person the Evil Eye.
It is also believed that the Evil Eye is best worn as a bracelet, necklace, or ring because it is visible to others. Some cultures even believe that it is better to wear a bracelet or ring with the Evil Eye on the left hand or wrist because the left side is associated with absorbing, drawing in, and receiving energy. The numerous colors provide different needs or forms of protection for those wearing them.
The various colors of Evil Eyes are:
- Red: Wearing a red Evil Eye amulet or bead provides wearers with protection, strength, and courage. It protects against fears and anxieties to enhance positive energy and discard negative energy.
- Red and black: Those who believe in the power of the Evil Eye, particularly in Latin America, will pair red Evil Eyes or red beads with a black gemstone. Most commonly, small children will wear red beaded bracelets to give them strength against those who may envy their youth. An azabache, for example, is a black gemstone that is paired with red beads, glass, or stones to ward off the Evil Eye. Additionally, in Indigenous cultures, el ojo de Vanado, or a deer’s eye seed, can also be sewn into a red string bracelet or added to a red string or beaded keychain or talisman. The deer’s eye seed provides physical and spiritual protection as an additional defense against the Evil Eye. When the color of the deer eye starts to change, then it has lost its strength and should be replaced.
- Orange: The orange Evil Eye amulet enhances protection, happiness, creativity, and playfulness. Those who wear it can also call on it to give them strength, determination, and courage.
- Yellow or gold: Those needing inspiration can turn to yellow or gold Evil Eye amulets or beads. These two colors provide wearers with more energy, providing relief from exhaustion, better concentration, and a sharper mind. Yellow and gold also remind wearers to take time for self-care and self-love.
- Green: The green Evil Eye typically comes in two shades: a dark green and a light green. Both provide wearers with different capabilities. The light green symbolizes freedom, life, health, and happiness. This color provides good luck for dreams, success, and good health. Dark green can also help with happiness, but since it is often associated with nature, it can provide wearers with calmness and relaxation. It helps people find balance in their lives, feel more grounded, and find the freedom and courage to pursue new ideas.
- Blue: The original Evil Eye is the dark blue one with what appears to be a light blue iris. It provides wearers with protection from bad karma and evil while simultaneously promoting peace, tranquility, and calmness. There is also a light blue Evil Eye that gives wearers the motivation and open-mindedness to broaden their horizons, expand their worldview, provide solitude and peace, and broaden perspectives. This one is best for someone in a transitional period of their life.
- Purple: For further encouragement and motivation during a major life change or transformation, purple Evil Eyes are thought to remove obstacles, boost imagination, and rebalance your life.
- Pink: Those wearing pink Evil Eyes want to protect their friendships, feel inner calm and peace, relax their minds, and boost their confidence in love matters.
- White: White Evil Eyes are nearly symbolic of a blank slate. They can help wearers clear clutters and obstacles, bring peace and purity, provide focus, and help with a fresh start.
- Brown: In addition to dark green, brown can also help build a deeper connection with nature while providing order and convenience.
- Gray: The gray Evil Eye provides comfort and solace during periods of grief, failure, or depression. It can also reduce the powers of another color if paired with it.
Is Wearing the Evil Eye Cultural Appropriation?
Some believe that seeing the Evil Eye as a fashion trend is somewhat offensive and that those who partake in it are complicit in cultural appropriation. Wearing the Evil Eye was a way for people to ward off evil and protect themselves. The boom in the commercialization of the Evil Eye makes those who genuinely believe in its power a little weary. Traditionally, the talismans only protect those who really believe in the Evil Eye, so if someone is wearing it as a fashion statement, the history of the Evil Eye does get lost.
TikTok users, in particular, get anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of views on Evil Eye content—whether they’re matching different colors of Evil Eyes with their outfits or promoting various products. They may not understand that when either jewelry, most commonly a bracelet or a wall hanging, breaks, it means someone has been successfully protected from the Evil Eye. Furthermore, wearing the Evil Eye should reflect the ill intentions or negative energy of others back to them.
In the same way that other cultures utilize a horseshoe, a rabbit’s foot, or a four-leaf clover symbol for good luck, people also may want to feel lucky or protected with an Evil Eye. Even if someone does not believe in good luck or bad luck, good or bad energy, or the idea of talismans in general, the Evil Eye is deeply embedded in various cultures and religions. To mock or belittle others for their beliefs in these traditions is disrespectful.
Others argue that seeing the Evil Eye in mainstream media can actually be positive and influential because it may encourage people to learn more about other cultures and histories. Not all of the content on TikTok is superficial either. Some TikTok users break down the meaning of different colored Evil Eyes, different shapes of the Evil Eyes, and how to make jewelry with Evil Eye beads. This content is not promotional or endorsed, but is really more focused on teaching people about the Evil Eye.
If watchers choose to buy jewelry with the Evil Eye, they can really understand and acknowledge its importance to others. Some smaller boutiques or specialty stores that sell Evil Eye jewelry include a brief history of the Evil Eye on packaging or on signage in the store, thus giving people the opportunity to learn about the Evil Eye before they make a purchase. Since the Evil Eye has existed for at least 5,000 years, it would seem that its historical significance is still safe even when it is no longer trending on TikTok.
