Editors

A Look at the World’s Most ‘Cursed’ Jewels

EditorsOct 28, 2021

A Look at the World’s Most ‘Cursed’ Jewels

As Halloween approaches, Associate Editor Lenore Fedow haunts us with the stories of four cursed jewels and shares a lesson in karma.

20211027_The Black Prince's Ruby header.jpg
“The Black Prince’s Ruby,” which is actually a red spinel, is set in the Imperial State Crown of England. Legend has it this gemstone, and a few others, are cursed. (Image courtesy of The Royal Collection Trust)
Halloween is upon us and, like the Elvira of the jewelry world, I’m back with some spooky, sparkly tales.

I’ve written about cursed jewelry previously in a 2019 story, detailing the more well-known “cursed” jewels, like the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and the Hope Diamond.

I also held a webinar last October about gemstone lore and legends with jewelry designer Alexandra Lozier where we delved into “bad luck” opals, talismans, and more.

Jewelry and storytelling go hand in hand, so I still have a few stories left to share this Halloween.

The Delhi Purple Sapphire

20211027_The Delhi Purple Sapphire.jpg
The Delhi purple sapphire, said to be cursed, is actually amethyst. (Image courtesy of the London Museum of Natural History)

A common thread in these stories of allegedly cursed gemstones is a simple morality tale—someone took something that didn’t belong to them and bad luck followed.

The story of the Delhi purple sapphire follows this classic pattern.

For starters, it’s not a purple sapphire at all. It’s an amethyst. (If you’re going to rob a precious gem, then at least have the decency to know what you’re stealing.)

A curator and amethyst fan from the Natural History Museum in London, where the stone now resides, shared the tale in a 2013 blog post after consulting with the museum’s mineral curators.

It’s said that a British soldier stole the stone from the Temple of Indra, the Hindu god of war and weather, during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 in Kanpur, India.

The stolen loot made its way into the hands of Colonel W. Ferris of the Bengal Cavalry, who took it back to England.

The gemstone was said to be nothing but trouble from the start, plaguing the colonel’s family with health issues and financial worries.

The “sapphire” was passed down to the colonel’s son who gave it to scientist and writer Edward Heron-Allen in 1890. Heron-Allen joined the chorus of those declaring the stone to be bad news.

In a 1904 letter, he described his experience of owning the Delhi purple sapphire and how it haunted him and others.

Looking to un-curse the violet stone, he tried giving it a makeover by surrounding it with good luck symbols.

He set the stone in a silver snake ring, said to have belonged to Heydon the Astrologer, a 17th century English occultist philosopher, and added zodiac symbol plaques and two pendants, one a silver Tau symbol and the other holding two amethyst scarabs.

The redesign didn’t work.

Heron-Allen wrote that he, his wife, and others were haunted by a “Hindu figure” who wandered his library demanding the stone back.

“He sits on his heels in a corner of the room, digging in the floor with his hands, as if searching for it,” he wrote. Creepy!

Heron-Allen tried to get rid of the gemstone by gifting it to friends, but the bad luck continued.

After the first friend returned it, he threw it into the Regent’s Canal, but it made its way back to him after a dredger found it.

He gifted it to another friend, an opera singer, who then lost her voice. The story goes that she never sang again, and the stone was once again in Heron-Allen’s hands.

He couldn’t shake the stone, but I bet he lost a lot of friends.

When his daughter was born, Heron-Allen packed the gemstone up in seven boxes, put it in a safety deposit box, and sealed it with a warning letter inside.

He asked that the Delhi purple sapphire not see the light of day again until 33 years after his death.

His daughter didn’t wait that long, gifting the stone to the Natural History Museum in London just a year after his death, where it remains to this day.

Heron-Allen had some parting words of advice in his letter.

“This stone is trebly accursed and is stained with blood, and the dishonor of everyone who has ever owned it,” he wrote.

“Whoever shall open [the box], shall first read this warning, and then do so as he pleases with the jewel. My advice to him or her is to cast it into the sea.”

It may be less that the stone was haunted and more that Heron-Allen was telling tall tales to give some credence to a 1921 short story he wrote, called “The Purple Sapphire,” under the pseudonym Christopher Blayre.

Museum experts think he may have pieced the story of the cursed gemstone together from other stories he’d heard over the course of his life and then had the good luck amulet made to back it up.

Still, people have reached out to the museum to corroborate the legend based on what they’ve found in their own family histories.

If you ask me, lock up this allegedly cursed gemstone and throw away the key.

The Delhi Purple Sapphire is still in the museum’s possession, but is no longer on display.

Graves Supercomplication

20211027_Graves Supercomplication.jpg
The Graves Supercomplication by Patek Philippe is said to be the world’s most complicated mechanical watch made without the use of computer technology. (Image courtesy of Sotheby’s)

I don’t write about watches often, and never about haunted watches, but there’s a first time for everything. We can’t let jewelry have all the fun.

SEE: The “Cursed” Graves Supercomplication

The story of this watch starts with the story of two rich guys competing to see who could own the coolest watch.

The first man was American businessman Henry Graves, who had made a fortune in banking and the railroads. He was old-money rich, descended from John Graves, who helped to settle Concord, Massachusetts in 1635.

His competitor was automobile tycoon James Ward Packard.

The two men both frequented Patek Philippe and went back and forth ordering more and more complex watches, according to a recounting of the history by Alan Banbery, the former curator of the Patek Philippe Museum.

In 1925, looking for the competitive edge, Graves commissioned a watch with a staggering 24 complications. The Graves Supercomplication was born.

Created by Patek Philippe, it is said to be the world’s most complicated mechanical watch made without the use of computer technology. It took seven years to research, develop, and produce the one-of-a-kind timepiece.

The watch weighs more than 1 pound, consisting of 920 individual components, including 430 screws, 110 wheels, 120 mechanical levers and parts, and 70 jewels.

Graves paid $15,000 for the watch at the time, which is about $311,500 in today’s money.

The watch is a beauty and a technical masterpiece.

My favorite feature is that on one side of the double dial is an aperture of the night sky over Central Park. The celestial chart shows the accurate spacing between the stars and their magnitude.

Though it took seven years to make, the Graves Supercomplication took no time at all to wreak havoc.

Soon after receiving the watch, Graves’ best friend died, followed by the tragic death of Graves’ son in a car crash.

Graves died in 1953 and the watch was passed along to family members, seemingly without incident.

It was sold at auction in 1999 to Sheikh Saud bin Muhammed al-Thani, a member of the Qatari Royal Family. The sheikh was a notable frequenter of auction houses, though less eager to pay his debts.

He owed millions of pounds in unpaid invoices and, following a long legal dispute, his assets were frozen by the High Court in London, as per a New York Times article.

In need of some cash, he gave the watch to Sotheby’s in 2014 to be auctioned.

Two days before the watch was sold for $15 million, Sheikh Saud bin Muhammed al-Thani, 48, died suddenly.

Is it possible this watch is haunted? Sure, but I see the curse of greed at work here.

The Graves Supercomplication is a product of the fierce competition between two insanely wealthy men at a time when droves of people were standing in bread lines, fighting for the bare necessities amid the Great Depression.

And when it fell into the hands of a wealthy individual who refused to pay his debts, the watch struck again.

 Related stories will be right here … 

The Black Prince’s Ruby

20211027_The Black Prince's Ruby.jpg
The Black Prince’s Ruby sits front and center in the Imperial State Crown of England. (Image courtesy of The Royal Collection Trust)

What a great name for a cursed gemstone.

Similar to the Delhi Purple Sapphire, this ruby isn’t a ruby at all.

It’s a 170-carat cabochon spinel, thought to have been mined in the mountains of Afghanistan, according to GIA.

The first mention of it was in the 14th century when the aptly named Don Pedro the Cruel of Seville, Spain, stabbed Abu Sai’d, the Moorish Prince of Granada, to death and ransacked his corpse, stealing the red stone, according to Diamond Buzz, a jewelry-focused educational blog.

I will repeat again that we really shouldn’t be stealing things. Ditto on the murder part.

And so the curse was born. The gemstone was said to bring bad luck and untimely death to all who touch it.

The spinel found its way to Edward of Woodstock, known as “The Black Prince,” who was famous for his battlefield victories during the Hundred Years’ War.

20211027_Black Prince.jpg
Edward of Woodstock, later known as “The Black Prince,” as seen in a miniature in William Bruges’ Garter Book (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Historians argue about the origin of his nickname, but many attribute it to his brutal attack on the French town of Limoges in September 1370, in which thousands of men, women, and children died.

The Black Prince died before he could assume the throne.

The stone then fell in the hands of King Henry V, who wore it on his battle helmet when he defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt.

Many British royals have owned the stone, including King Henry VII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.

The gem has seen more than its fair share of bloodshed and has been around for quite a number of unfortunate deaths within the Royal Family.

King Charles I held the stone until he was beheaded in 1649 for treason and it was sold.

Charles II bought the stone back, but the battle continued, and it was nearly stolen by Irish colonel Thomas Blood in 1671 when he attempted to steal the crown jewels from the Tower of London.

The “ruby” now sits front and center on the Imperial State Crown of England.

I believe that inanimate objects can hold negative energy, whether it be a cursed gemstone or a house where something unthinkable happened.

I would also posit that you can’t colonize half the world like it’s your personal playground for generations and then expect the good luck gods to smile down upon your family.

But sure, let’s blame the spinel.

The Lydian Hoard

20211027_Hippocampus Brooch.jpg
A brooch depicting the mythical hippocampus, recovered from the ancient Lydian civilization in present-day Turkey (Image courtesy of The Hurriyet Daily News)

We’ve made it to our last cursed jewels of the day and I’m starting to feel like a broken record.

Stop. Taking. Things. That. Don’t. Belong. To. You.

If I had been around in the 1960s, that’s what I would have said to the group of villagers who uncovered and raided the burial chamber of a princess from the ancient kingdom of Lydia in the Usak region of western Turkey.

Inside the chamber were 363 gold and silver artifacts, like jewelry and coins, dating back to the 6th century B.C, according to “Ancient Treasures: The Discovery of Lost Hoards, Sunken Ships, Buried Vaults, and Other Long-Forgotten Artifacts,” a 2013 book by Brian Haughton.

It’s known as the Lydian Hoard, or the Karun Treasures.

Lydia established strong trade networks and sat at a crossroads of cultures, and so the artifacts show both Eastern and Greek influences.

An important source of its wealth was the gold found in the Pactolus River near the civilization’s capital. Lydians used this gold to create some of the world’s first coins, wrote Haughton.

Artifacts from this ancient civilization are few and far between, so every piece is valuable in a literal and historical sense.

But neither respect for the dead nor an appreciation of history are any match for the almighty dollar.

The princess’ tomb was ransacked and the pieces were sold to a shady antiquities dealer, who later sold the goods to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

A UNESCO agreement in 1970 banned the illegal export of cultural property, but this transaction slipped in right under the buzzer.

Some of the pieces were put on permanent display in 1984, though not with the correct provenance, a fact that did not escape the notice of Turkish authorities.

In 1986, Turkey demanded the pieces be returned, but the Met refused. The following year, Turkey filed a lawsuit.

In her book, “Loot: The Battle Over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World,” author Sharon Waxman shared some insight on the case.

The Met tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, but when third-party scholars began their research, the evidence was damning.

“Wall paintings were measured and found to fit the gaps in the walls of one tomb. Looters cooperating with the investigation described pieces they had stolen that matched the cache at the Met,” wrote Waxman.

By 1993, years into this long legal battle, the Met agreed to settle the dispute and returned the Lydian Hoard to Turkey to be put on display in the Usak Museum.

One of the most notable pieces was a gold brooch featuring a hippocampus, a mythical winged sea-horse, seen above.

We can safely bet The Met was cursed with incredibly expensive legal fees, but what happened to the villagers who uncovered the treasure?

The story goes that none of them were able to enjoy their ill-gotten gains, living through great misfortune and dying violent deaths.

The Lesson We Can’t Seem to Learn

The more I research “cursed” jewelry, the more I think the real curse may be karma.

The thought reminds me of a favorite quote, attributed to the legendary author James Baldwin.

“People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.”

It’s easier, and more interesting, to believe it’s a stone that has cursed us rather than that our actions have consequences.

That’s not to say every bad thing that happens to us is karmic payback, but none of these stones were “cursed” out of nowhere.

You get back what you put in and the “cursed” put a lot of bad into the world, whether that be warfare or greed.

As Halloween approaches, with its ghosts and goblins in tow, keep in mind that, sometimes, the real monsters look just like you and me.

The Latest

Navneet montana sapphire
SourcingFeb 14, 2025
Navneet Gems Now Offering Unheated Montana Sapphires

The wholesale collection features material from the Rock Creek mine in a variety of colors.

Theresa Caputo &LIVY jewelry
CollectionsFeb 14, 2025
Carolyn Rafaelian Partners with ‘Long Island Medium’ Star

The “Divinely Guided” collection, created in collaboration with Theresa Caputo, features symbols that celebrate the power of connection.

Lorraine West Diamond Open Heart Ring
CollectionsFeb 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Lorraine West’s Diamond ‘Open Heart’ Ring

Show some love on Valentine’s Day with this 14-karat yellow gold ring that features pavé diamonds.

Top Image.png
Brought to you by
3 Ways to Capitalize on America’s Newfound Love of Colored Gems

Colored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?

Surveillance image of Macy’s jewelry thief
CrimeFeb 13, 2025
Macy’s Employee Foils $1.5M Jewelry Theft

The employee confronted the thief, causing the suspect to flee and leave behind the suitcases full of jewelry.

Weekly QuizFeb 13, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Namdia rough diamonds
SourcingFeb 13, 2025
Namibian Diamond Co. Suspends CEO, COO After Deadly Heist

Namib Desert Diamonds also put its security manager on leave following last month’s robbery that left one employee dead.

Spectrum and Cutting Edge Buyer’s Choice awards
Events & AwardsFeb 13, 2025
AGTA Announces Buyer’s Choice Award Winners for Spectrum, Cutting Edge

AGTA recently concluded its 2025 GemFair event in Tucson and is already gearing up for next year’s show, set for Feb. 2-6, 2026.

Resolutions - 2025.jpg
Brought to you by
3 New Year’s Resolutions for Jewelry Lovers

The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.

Royal Chain models in 14-karat gold fashion links
CollectionsFeb 13, 2025
Royal Chain Releases Its Spring 2025 Catalog

More than 400 new pieces are featured in the supplier’s latest catalog.

Azra Mehdi pink sapphire ombré heart dog tag necklace in 14-karat rose gold
TrendsFeb 13, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Hearts for Valentine’s Day

This curation celebrates love with heart-shaped jewelry of all shapes and sizes.

Jewelers Relief Fund logo
Policies & IssuesFeb 13, 2025
Jewelers Relief Fund Reopened to Aid Victims of LA Fires

The fund is collecting money for jewelry businesses damaged by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

3 natural diamond engagement rings by Marrow Fine, Stephanie Gottlieb, Single Stone, and Sylvie Jewelry
TrendsFeb 12, 2025
5 Engagement Ring Trends Expected to Rule 2025

From chunky bands to vintage diamond cuts and bezel settings, these are the trends experts are seeing take over the bridal market.

De Beers Jewellers Embrace Bracelet
CollectionsFeb 12, 2025
De Beers Jewellers’ New High Jewelry Pays Homage to the Beauty of Trees

The “Essence of Nature, Chapter One” collection echoes trees and roots, literally and figuratively, through three sets of high jewelry.

Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK) diamonds
SourcingFeb 12, 2025
SRK Announces Notable Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Late last year, the India-based diamond manufacturer recorded emissions per carat that are 34 percent lower than the industry average.

Peter Smith
ColumnistsFeb 12, 2025
Peter Smith: 9 Store Manager Archetypes

Smith details the types of store managers he’s encountered, with the goal of helping retailers find a person who’s a fit for their store.

myGemma showroom
TechnologyFeb 12, 2025
MyGemma Now Offers Consignment Service

The secondhand reseller stocks pre-owned designer jewelry and watches, along with other luxury goods.

 Ghirardelli Chocolocket
CollectionsFeb 12, 2025
Ghirardelli Is Slipping Chocolate Into a Locket This Valentine's Day

The limited-edition “Chocolocket” fits a mini square of Ghirardelli chocolate inside.

Jewelers of America 20 Under 40 graphic
Events & AwardsFeb 11, 2025
JA Seeking Nominations for Its Next ‘20 Under 40’ Class

The program has been expanded to include a “20 Under 40” list for jewelry suppliers and is accepting nominations through Feb. 19.

Police cars with lights on
CrimeFeb 11, 2025
2 Men Charged With Selling Stolen Jewelry, Watches in NYC Diamond District

One of the men is said to be connected to the South American crew charged with burglarizing Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s home.

Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti watch
WatchesFeb 11, 2025
Bulgari, MB&F Launch Reimagined ‘Serpenti’ Watch

The brands immersed one of Bulgari’s most famous historical icons in MB&F’s ultra-mechanical universe of haute horlogerie.

Boucheron Power of Couture campaign
FinancialsFeb 11, 2025
Boucheron a Bright Spot as Kering’s Full-Year Sales Sink 12%

The luxury titan’s full-year performance was weighed down by struggling sales at its star brand Gucci.

Midas Chain Diamond and Gemstone Jewelry
MajorsFeb 11, 2025
Midas Chain Releases First Diamond Collection

The jewelry manufacturer has launched more than 100 pieces made with natural diamonds.

Tacori Stilla ring
SurveysFeb 10, 2025
Jewelry Resilient in 2024 Even As Luxury Sales Slipped, Says Bain & Co.

Bain & Co.’s latest report on the luxury market examines why the market’s customer base is shrinking and how to appeal to consumers in 2025.

Counterfeit Cartier “Juste Un Clou” bracelet
CrimeFeb 10, 2025
Counterfeit Jewelry Kept Kentucky Customs Agents Busy in January, CBP Says

Officers in Louisville seized 28 shipments of fake jewelry and watches that would have been worth more than $27 million if genuine.

Hearts On Fire Inside Out Collection Bracelets
CollectionsFeb 10, 2025
Hearts on Fire Flips Jewelry ‘Inside Out’ in New Collection

The collection centers on the art of tailoring, inspired by designs that feature folded fabrics, such as a tuxedo lapel.

JW Marriott Hotel in Nashville Tennessee
Events & AwardsFeb 10, 2025
Select Jewelry Show Heads to Nashville

The trade show has added a new location to its fall line-up.

Jade Trau Ladybird Charm
CollectionsFeb 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jade Trau’s ‘Ladybird’ Charm

From the brand’s latest collection of lucky charms, the ladybird is seen as a bearer of good fortune and a ward against negative energy.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy