What Does the Evil Eye Symbol Mean? A Guide to Evil Eye Charms and Jewellery

The Evil Eye midi charm from The Charmé Edit

The evil eye is one of the oldest protective symbols still worn today, recognisable by its concentric circles of blue, white, and dark blue, shaped to resemble a watching eye. Long before it turned up on bracelets and phone cases, it was believed to guard against ill will directed at the wearer. Here's where it actually comes from and what it means to wear one now.

Where the Evil Eye Symbol Comes From

The belief in an "evil eye," the idea that envy or ill will directed at a person could cause them harm, dates back thousands of years across the Mediterranean and Middle East, including ancient Greece, Rome, and Turkey. The blue and white eye-shaped amulet used to ward it off is often called a nazar, from the Arabic word for sight or attention. In Turkey it's traditionally known as nazar boncğuğı, a glass bead in the same layered blue and white pattern still used today. The symbol spread across many cultures over centuries, and versions of it appear in Greek, Turkish, Middle Eastern, and North African traditions, each with their own name and slight variations on the design.

The Evil Eye midi charm from The Charmé Edit

What the Colours Mean

The deep blue background is the most recognisable part of the design, and blue has long been associated with protection and the sky or water in many of the cultures where the symbol originated. The white ring and dark blue or black centre complete the "eye" shape, said to look back at any ill intent directed toward the wearer and deflect it. While interpretations vary by region and tradition, the core idea across most versions is the same: a watching eye that protects rather than harms.

Evil Eye Jewellery Today

Over the last decade, the symbol has moved well beyond its traditional roots into mainstream fashion, showing up on bracelets, necklaces, rings, and phone accessories worn far outside the cultures where it originated. For a lot of people wearing it now, it sits somewhere between a style choice and a genuine nod to the protective meaning behind it, and both are valid reasons to wear one.

A Charmé Edit custom charm phone case featuring an evil eye charm

Wearing It as a Phone Charm

Our evil eye midi charm, £2, is hand-placed and sealed into your case alongside any other charms you choose, so it becomes a permanent part of the design rather than something that can fall off or get lost the way a bracelet charm can. It works well as a single, clear symbol on its own, or as one piece within a larger layout.

Pairing It With Other Charms

The evil eye's blue tone pairs naturally with gold accents, our golden moon charm, £2, works well alongside it without competing for attention. For a softer, more layered look, adding a few pearls from the charms collection around it keeps the eye as the clear focal point while filling out the rest of the design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does wearing an evil eye actually mean?

Traditionally, it's believed to protect the wearer from ill will or envy directed at them, an eye that watches back and deflects rather than causes harm. Today many people wear it for that meaning, for its look, or both.

Where does the evil eye symbol come from?

It has roots across the Mediterranean and Middle East, including ancient Greece, Rome, and Turkey, with versions of the belief and symbol appearing in many cultures over thousands of years.

Can I combine the evil eye charm with other charms on my case?

Yes. It's sold individually so it can be added to any custom design alongside other charms from the collection, there's no preset combination required.

Does the evil eye charm come in different colours?

It's available in the traditional blue and white design, the colours most associated with the symbol's protective meaning.