Welcome to the Gilt Trips Podcast. I'm your host, Kendra Lockhart. As a goldsmith and
gemologist, I'll be speaking 24 carat on all things jewelry, metals, and gems. Join
me plus a few friends to demystify both materials and designs as your private jeweler. Let's
tune in on these topics and get golden. By definition, the word curse is said to mean
a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone
or something. Enter humanity's awe with gems mysteries, their association with both wealth
and health, the fact that they're used for power, and often acquired via ill-begotten
means. Is it any wonder that the realm of superstition and paranormal properties are
a possibility? What is humanity's obsession with good and bad luck? Why bother creating
mythology about the mystique of jewels? We will find these answers and more in this episode.
Your timestamps are in the show notes. Before we tackle our psychology with correlating
stones to omens, events, or outcomes, let's address our historical unknown with nature
and jewels. While metals have helped with the system and structure of circulated currency,
gems have only been treated like money as trade by those who are already wealthy or
economically elite. But there are more reasons with jewels to point us to giving them so
much power as both health and wealth totems and talismans.
Number one, folklore. Many people in periods throughout history have assigned symbolic
meanings and powers to different stones and gems based on folklore or traditions. These
beliefs then get woven in and passed down through generations, becoming part of a cultural
fabric. Two, piezoelectricity. In practices like astrology and crystal healing, different
stones and gems are believed to have specific metaphysical properties because a gem already
has an inherent energy, it can influence a person's aura, emotions, or well-being.
Three, esthevix. The color and appearance of stones and gems can evoke certain emotions
and associations in people. For example, the color red may be linked to heightened anger
or passion, whereas blue may be linked to calming and communicating.
Four, in traditional medicine systems like areyveda or Chinese medicine, certain stones
and gems are believed to have healing properties and are used in remedies and treatments. So
this balances the concept of body energy or corrects imbalances or promotes health and
wellness.
And five, correlations. Individuals may have had personal experiences or anecdotal evidence
that leads them to believe in the powers of certain gems. This can create a strong personal
belief in the connection of stones for various purposes, such as protection, healing, or
enhancing personal growth.
Now that we've explored some ways that we've created personal and collective mythology,
let's get into some gems that can make us victorious or victimize as they get assigned
stories of good luck and bad luck.
Pearls. Some say that brides should not wear pearls on their wedding day because they can
bring sadness to the marriage. Others say that pearls are not suitable for everyday
wear because they are porous. However, pearls can also symbolize purity, wisdom, and loyalty.
Is this you?
Black diamonds. In Italy, some believe that touching a black diamond with a spouse can
bring good fortune and dissipate worries. Yet ancient India held the superstition that
black diamonds were thought to be a sign of death because they resemble the spider's eye.
Clearly this wasn't the case with certain black diamonds I'll be mentioning later.
Opals. So many rules with this jewel. Allegedly only those born in October who have this as
a birthstone are safe to wear them, and they should never be given or accepted as a gift.
If they are gifted, bad luck can be negated by handing its giver a small sum of money
to turn it into a financial transaction. My favorite is that engagement rings should
never contain an opal because the new bride will quickly become a widow.
Now this was once the most favored gems among ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Arabs
for both profit and prophecy. Despite Queen Victoria wearing and gifting them often, a
thin tale was spread that it would still bring misfortune to those not being born in the
month of October. The beers would even campaign against this to deter sales in America so
that diamonds would be the top choice. And my favorite story is that of a New York jeweler
who stopped stocking opals as clients who once had rings and brooches made years before would
return saying, the cat died, the baby got sick, the neighbors are aghast, that we wear these
forbidden stones. He said it was pretty bad for business.
And lastly, citrine. Sometimes called the lucky merchant stone, it is said to attract
positive energy, generosity, and good luck. Given that it has a bright, somewhat solar
hue to it, we see the ease in the corresponding to vibrancy, abundance, and vitality. It is
also thought to help people reach their financial and business goals. And many have put them
in their wallets, money jars, purses, and mine happens to be on my cat's collar.
Now let's get specific and talk about the top 10 famous cursed gems.
First up, the black oar love. A 67.5 carat cushion cut black diamond, the black oar love
is known as the Eye of Brahma Diamond. In the 19th century, a Jesuit cleric stole it
from an ancient statue of the Hindu god Brahma. Who is Brahma? In Hindu religion, it is the
main god of creation, the supreme divinity, and part of a trinity with Vishnu and Shakti.
So it stands to reason that the thievery is what began the correlation to the black oar
love's curse. And it's also important to note that the original version of this gem
was 195 carats. In 1932, a diamond dealer took the gem to New York to try and find a
buyer for this unusual stone. He ended his life by jumping from a skyscraper in that
city just a few months later. In the 1940s, there would be two more owners who had leaped
to their deaths. Both were Russian princesses. Leonilla, Baratinsky, and Nadia or Lav, for
whom the stone is named. Both leapt from tall buildings while in possession of the diamond.
Charles F. Winston would go on to cut it into three pieces to attempt to break the curse.
The one we know now was set into a brooch with 108 diamonds and it doubles as a pendant.
This would be acquired by a diamond dealer who swears the curse was broken in 2004. And
later on it was viewable at the Natural History Museums in both New York and London.
Next we have the Coenor and this name translates to Mountain of Light, famous for being one
of the largest cut diamonds on the planet. Also, it was fought over by rulers all over
the world and this has a particularly bloody history over the last 5,000 years. The diamond
was captured and recaptured by India, Persia, the Afghanistan area, and the six. The Coenor's
curse is rumored to have effect only men. Women are immune to its bad luck. Rumor had
it that British soldiers stole the 109 carat loose diamond from the six. Until recently,
the Coenor is still hotly contested. Afghanistan, Iran, and India all claim to be the stone's
rightful owners, not England. However, that was debunked in 2018 by India's historians
who said that the asset was relinquished to Queen Victoria. As for the part about women
being immune to any tragedy befalling them, it is because the Coenor is specifically said
to lead to the downfall of any prince or king who claims ownership. So where is it today?
It rests in the coronation crown of the Queen Mother. Now Elizabeth II was crowned in it,
her mother before her wore it, as did her grandmother. But a year ago, Charles became
king and was coronated with this diamond. And, despite having parents with strong constitutions
and longevity, he now has a cancer diagnosis that some are whispering and attributing to
the curse. Now we have the Delhi sapphire. Guess what? It's not a sapphire. Guess what
else? Also stolen from a temple in India. The Delhi sapphire is a deep purple amethyst,
and it was a British soldier who took the semi-precious gem from the temple of Indra,
the Hindu god of war. Great choice. The soldier endured such about a bad luck, he gave it
away to a scientist, John Haran Allen. Immediately struck by misfortune, Haran Allen leaves his
life work, and the poor guy tries giving the stone away twice, but is unsuccessful. In 1902,
he reluctantly agrees to lend it to his friend. The friend has a series of unlucky events. He
returns the gem to Haran Allen, who almost immediately begins to suffer again. He snaps,
casts the stone into the regent's canal. And then, he must have believed he was rid of the curse
once and for all. Not so fast, John. Some months later, the ring was dredged from the canal and
taken to a local jeweler. The jeweler remembered setting the stone in a ring for Haran Allen,
and believing he was performing a kindness, returned it to him. Much later, a friend asked to
borrow the jewel, and once again, Haran Allen lends it out. This time the target was a professional
singer, who never sang again after wearing it. Exasperated from loss and health issues, he packs
his deli sapphire into seven boxes filled with charms, deposits it in the safe of his bank,
with instructions not to be opened for 33 years after his death. Now it is on display in the
London Natural History Museum, with strict orders not to touch it with bare hands. Let's move on
to the Santsy Diamond. The Santsy is a 55 carat pear-shaped diamond with a pale yellow hue,
and the curse begins with, wait for it, stealing from India. This time, a French soldier is responsible.
The Santsy is believed to be cursed because it has disappeared and reappeared so many times in
history. But the highlight is a French ambassador to Turkey buys it around 1570, and lets French
kings like Henry III and Henry IV borrow it. He has his servant delivering the diamond to its
next owner, King James I, except he's attacked by thieves. So the diamond is now stolen from
the messenger and believed to be lost to robbers? No! The Santsy was found a few days later. Medical
examiners discovered the diamond was inside of the servant's stomach during the autopsy. He had
swallowed it so the robbers who would murder him could not have it. We move on to the Regent Diamond.
This 140 carat gem with a faint blue tone is famous for decorating Napoleon's sword. The
diamond gained notoriety after it was, once again, stolen from India. The slave who took it from the
mine in India had to hide it in an open wound on his leg. He boards a ship for Europe in hopes of
selling the diamond, but the ship's captain got word the slave was carrying an extremely valuable
gemstone. So the captain merges the slave, sells the diamond for himself, and starts a long history
of it being handed down through generations of French royalty. The Regent and the Santsy are
both on display at the L'Oreau Museum in Paris. Now we have the Taylor Burton Diamond. This was a
famous diamond sale at its time, an unprecedented value that gave it the title of the first
million-dollar diamond. I include this in the list because Elizabeth Taylor said it bore the,
quote, curse of divorce. Granted, she remarried the same husband and would be zero for two with the
guy. But this is common in diamonds presented for marriage that end in failure. People are leery of
what that gem could be carrying for its next bride. Time to discuss the Peregrina Pearl. Worn by
Elizabeth Taylor at one time, this gem would plague female monarchs in Europe long before her
Hollywood royalty. Queen Mary, also known as Bloody Mary, would not only be cursed with unrequited
love for King Philip of Spain, but she would have a, quote, phantom pregnancy, unquote. The
country starts to celebrate the future era, but there isn't one. More likely it was her reproductive
disorder. The king leaves her for other mistresses, and she becomes famous for killing people who did
not want to become Catholic like her. Next up, Queen Isabella of Spain is wearing it, starts an
affair with one of the gentlemen of the court. That guy gets himself murdered later. It passes to
Queen Marianna, who loses three of her five children, and the other two had difficult
disabilities due to the inbreeding. Where is it now? The pearl was auctioned after Elizabeth
Taylor passes for over $11 million, as it is an impressive 55 carats and shockingly symmetrical.
This brings us to the Black Prince ruby. Let's start with the fact it is not an actual ruby,
but rather a red spinel that is uncut. And it begins in the 14th century when Prince Abu of
the Moorish Kingdom is losing his battle to Don Pedro the Cruel. The prince decides to surrender.
Pedro says, come see me, let's talk. Oop, and murders him instead. Pedro finds this gem on
the prince's body and claims it as his very own. Not too long after, Pedro's brother declares war
on him. So Pedro has to buddy up with Edward of Woodstock, aka the Black Prince, who liked wearing
dark armor, and fork over the gem as payment for protection. Now it is mounted in the British
Imperial State Crown, and you can visit it in the Tower of London. And lastly, the Hope Diamond.
I covered this one in the Cartier episode, but let's talk more about Evelyn Walsh McLean. She
was presented with the blue diamond, but took a pass. It wasn't until her jeweler said it had bad
luck. To which she replied, oh, then it will be good luck for me. Mind you, she was quite eccentric,
hiding the Hope Diamond during parties or letting her dog sport it on its collar. But in the course
of Evelyn's lifetime, her husband would leave her for another woman, and later die crazy in an
asylum. Her son would be struck by a car in childhood. She would find her own daughter at age 24
overdosed on sleeping pills. Evelyn would have to sell off everything she owned before pneumonia
would claim her life at age 60. Now do you believe that gems carry the experience of good and bad
luck, or is manifesting in misfortune simply the theater of our minds? Thank you for listening and
learning with me. I would love you to share this project with people finding rear beauty in today's
world and throughout our times. Until the next episode, keep your own stories sparkling.