10 Luxury Items with Strange Histories

Luxury has always fascinated humanity... so nice to know I am not alone!

But not just for its glitter and exclusivity, but for the unusual and sometimes bizarre stories behind the world’s most coveted items.

Today we are going to take a look at 10 luxury items with strange histories that prove wealth and status often come with a twist of mystery.

Great little gems of knowledge that you could use as conversation starters or just to be that interesting person that everyone remembers...so here we go...

1. Diamonds: Once Considered Bad Luck

Today diamonds symbolize love and wealth but in medieval Europe, they were believed to carry curses — unless blessed by a priest.

2. Fabergé Eggs: Jewels of Revolution

The Russian Tsars commissioned Fabergé Eggs as Easter gifts. Each one contained hidden surprises — from tiny crowns to golden chickens. And many vanished during the Russian Revolution.

3. Pearls: Cleopatra’s Cocktail

Legend has it Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in vinegar and drank it to prove she could consume the wealth of an empire in a single sip.

Wow... I bet it tasted horrible!

4. Silk: A Smuggler’s Treasure

China guarded silk-making as a state secret for centuries and the penalty for smuggling silkworms out of the empire? Death!

5. Tulips: Flowers that Broke the Economy

In the 1600s, tulips became so valuable in Holland that one bulb cost more than a house. This became the world’s first recorded financial bubble — Tulip Mania.

Who would ever have thought that tulips caused the first recorded financial bubble!

6. Gold: Believed to Grant Immortality

Ancient Chinese alchemists thought drinking “liquid gold” could extend life. Sadly, it was toxic — emperors literally poisoned themselves chasing immortality.

7. Velvet: The Fabric of Power

Velvet was so expensive to make in Renaissance Italy that only nobles could wear it.

And if a tailor sold it to commoners they risked execution.

8. Caviar: Food for Peasants Turned Royalty’s Delight

In medieval Russia, caviar was cheap food that was eaten by the poor. Only centuries later did it become the delicacy of kings.

9. Opals: The “Unlucky” Gem

Queen Victoria loved opals, but earlier Europeans thought they brought misfortune, especially if worn by anyone other than royalty.

10. Porcelain: White Gold of Europe

Europeans once thought porcelain was magical and worth its weight in gold. Kings even sent spies to China to uncover its secret formula.

These bite sized pearls of wisdom will have everyone revering your intelligence at the next social event...enjoy :)