What is a symbol lexicon?

A symbol lexicon explains the origin, history and meaning of symbols. The RetinaDesign Symbol Lexicon focuses on symbols in jewellery – from the heart and infinity to the hamsa and yin and yang – and shows how universal signs can become personal ones.

Which symbol stands for love?

The best-known symbol of love is the heart. The rose, the infinity loop, the dove and the Celtic knot also stand for love, fidelity and connection – each with its own nuance.

Which symbol stands for new beginnings and change?

Change and new beginnings are represented above all by the butterfly, phoenix, lotus, wave and moon. The butterfly emphasises transformation, the phoenix a fresh start after a turning point, the lotus unfolding out of difficult conditions.

Which symbol stands for protection?

Classic protective symbols are the hamsa, the eye and the anchor. Worn as amulets across many cultures, they stand for safety, stability and confidence to this day.

Which symbol stands for family?

The tree of life is the strongest family symbol: roots, trunk and branches stand for origin, togetherness and growth. The elephant and the wolf also carry strong family meaning.

How do I choose the right symbol for jewellery?

What matters is your personal story: which feeling, which person or which chapter of life should become visible? The lexicon helps you understand the cultural meaning – the personal meaning arises in your own life.

Do symbols have the same meaning in every culture?

No. Many symbols carry different meanings depending on culture and era. The hamsa, for instance, is a protective sign in several religions; the lotus has different emphases in Egypt and Asia. Each lexicon page traces this development with verified sources.

What is more personal than a universal symbol?

Universal symbols are shared by many people. A RetinaSignature, by contrast, is created from the unique retinal pattern of a single person – it exists only once and makes a piece of jewellery unmistakably personal.

Can I combine a symbol with a RetinaSignature?

Yes. Many RetinaDesign pieces combine a universal symbol with a personal RetinaSignature. A familiar sign thus gains a second layer of meaning that exists only once.

Are new symbols added to the lexicon?

Yes, the Symbol Lexicon keeps growing. Every new entry follows the same standard: origin, history, meaning in jewellery, frequently asked questions and verified sources.

Symbol Lexicon: The Meaning of the Most Important Symbols in Jewellery

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The Symbol Lexicon

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Every sign carries a story. Some are thousands of years old.

A curated collection of the most important symbols in jewellery. For people who want to know not only what a sign means, but why it still moves us today.

Discover personal symbolism →

A symbol is a sign that says more than it shows. Love. Memory. Family. Hope. Courage. Connection. Protection. New beginnings. Some signs accompany us because they are older than our language. Others become meaningful because a particular person fills them with life. Worn as jewellery, a symbol becomes a quiet companion: it recalls, protects, connects - and tells a story that only the person wearing it knows.

Why Symbols Still Move Us Today

A symbol is more than a shape. A heart is not simply a geometric figure. An anchor is not just a tool. A tree is not merely a plant.

As soon as we ascribe meaning to them, they become carriers of memories, relationships and stories. They help people make the invisible visible: love, grief, hope, gratitude, belonging, or the memory of a person who shaped one's own life.

Perhaps this is where their true power lies: Symbols give feelings a form.

Stance

Our Definition of Meaningful Jewellery

Many pieces of jewellery carry a symbol. Few carry a story. And fewer still carry the unmistakable signature of a person.

For us, meaningful jewellery arises where three elements come together: a sign with cultural depth, a personal story, and something inseparably bound to a particular person.

This is exactly where the idea behind RetinaDesign begins. A heart, a rose or a ring can be worn by many people. A RetinaSignature belongs to one single person.

Couple with meaningful jewellery – people who value true worth and relationships

In depth

The Six Levels of Symbolic Jewellery

A symbol works on several levels at once – from cultural history to one's own identity.

The Cultural Level

A symbol possesses a history. The Tree of Life, the Rose, the Dove or the Phoenix carry meanings that have grown over centuries.

The Personal Level

A symbol gains its true power only through a person's story. The same Anchor can mean hope – or the memory of a father.

The Emotional Level

Symbols help preserve feelings – like the Heart, the Feather or the Star. They make visible what we do not want to lose.

The Relational Level

Many symbols speak of connection. The Infinity, the Love Knot or the Tree of Life tell of family, friendship and partnership – of the people who have shaped our lives.

The Identity Level

The deepest level arises when a symbol no longer stands merely for something, but for someone – like a Ring or one's own Zodiac Sign. Here the world of symbols meets the RetinaDesign Concept.

Seven Paths Through the Lexicon

Discover Symbols by Meaning

Many people do not first search for a particular motif. They search for a sign for a feeling, a relationship or a moment in life. That is why this lexicon is not arranged alphabetically, but ordered by meaning.

Chapter 1

Love & Connection

Signs that make closeness visible: for a person, a relationship or a promise meant to last.

Heart

Love, closeness, compassion and the meaning of a relationship.

Rose

Love, beauty, gratitude and transience.

Infinity

Eternity, return and lasting connection.

Dove

Peace, hope, loyalty and gentle connection.

Celtic Knot

Connection, continuity and lines without beginning or end.

Chapter 2

Change & Nature

Signs from the living world: for development, new beginnings and the rhythm in which everything changes.

Butterfly

Transformation, soul and a new beginning.

Lotus

Purity, transformation and beauty rising from the mud.

Wave

Change, vitality and the rhythm of life.

Sun

Life force, growth and confidence.

Moon

Change, rhythm, serenity and intuition.

Phoenix

Rebirth, transformation and a new beginning from the ashes.

Chapter 3

Strength & Character

Signs of inner strength: for courage, dignity, wisdom and what makes a person unmistakable.

Lion

Courage, dignity, strength and presence.

Wolf

Loyalty, instinct, family and inner freedom.

Elephant

Family, memory, wisdom and protection.

Bee

Diligence, community and golden life force.

Owl

Wisdom, watchfulness and clear sight in the night.

Crown

Dignity, self-respect and one's own inner bearing.

From the Universal Symbol to the RetinaSignature

Every symbol in this lexicon tells a shared story of humanity. A RetinaSignature tells the story of a single person – as unique as the pattern of their retina.

More about RetinaSignatures →

Chapter 4

Protection & Orientation

Signs that give stability: for security, direction and the quiet confidence to find one's own way.

Anchor

Stability, hope, loyalty and steadfastness.

Star

Orientation, hope and a light in the night.

North Star

Orientation, new beginnings and direction.

Hamsa

Protection, blessing and the open hand across cultures.

Eye

Protection, perception and the window to the soul.

Key

Access, trust, mystery and new doors.

Chapter 5

Wholeness & Life's Path

Signs for the greater whole: for origin, balance and the paths that have shaped a person.

Tree of Life

Roots, growth, family and lifelines.

Triquetra

Wholeness, harmony and the joining of three arcs.

Yin and Yang

Balance, complement and the equilibrium of opposites.

Mountains

Growth, endurance and the way to the summit.

Chapter 6

Family & Origin

Signs of roots and belonging: for the people we come from, and those who carry us through life.

Tree of Life

Family, roots, growth and lifelines.

Tree

Life, stability and belonging.

Wolf

Loyalty, instinct and the pack as family.

Elephant

Memory, wisdom and family togetherness.

Clover

Luck, hope and a sign of providence.

Chapter 7

Memory & Comfort

Signs that preserve: for the people who are missing, and for the moments meant to remain.

Feather

Freedom, lightness, protection and memory.

Angel

Protection, companionship and quiet comfort.

Star

Hope and a light that remains.

Cross

Faith, protection and memory.

Raven

Knowledge, mystery and change.

Olive Branch

Peace, reconciliation and new gentleness.

Full Overview

All Symbols at a Glance

This collection grows as a curated library for meaningful jewellery. Each page explains origin, history, symbolism, use in jewellery and the RetinaDesign perspective.

EagleFreedom, strength and vision AnchorStability, hope and homecoming EyePerception, protection and presence TreeLife, stability and belonging Tree of LifeFamily, roots and growth MountainStrength, goal and ascent BeeCommunity and the order of life DolphinJoy, protection and connection DragonPower, protection and transformation Wedding RingLoyalty, marriage and future ElephantMemory, wisdom and family AngelProtection, companionship and comfort OwlWisdom, intuition and insight FeatherFreedom, protection and memory RockConstancy, foundation and stability HamsaProtection, blessing and watchfulness HeartLove, closeness and memory StagDignity, gentleness and renewal Celtic KnotEternity and life's paths CloverLuck, hope and providence CrossFaith, protection and memory CrownDignity, self-worth and responsibility LabyrinthSearch, path and insight Flower of LifeOrder, harmony and wholeness DragonflyChange, clarity and lightness Love KnotConnection and loyalty Laurel WreathRecognition, honour and dignity LotusPurity and inner development LionCourage, strength and heart's power MandalaWholeness, order and centre MoonIntuition, rhythm and inwardness North StarOrientation and direction Olive BranchPeace and reconciliation OuroborosCycle, renewal and return HorseFreedom, strength and trust PhoenixRebirth and new beginning RavenKnowledge, mystery and change RingBond, circle and promise RoseLove, beauty and devotion RunesWriting, protection and the power of signs TurtleProtection, patience and longevity SnakeHealing, knowledge and transformation KeyTrust, access and mystery ButterflyTransformation and lightness SunLife, warmth and clarity Sun & MoonBalance, opposites and partnership StarHope, light and orientation Zodiac SignBirth, cosmos and identity DovePeace, hope and reconciliation TriquetraUnity, eternity and connection TriskeleMovement, cycle and strength InfinityEternity, loyalty and constancy WaveMovement, depth and resilience WolfLoyalty, instinct and family Yin YangHarmony and opposites

From Symbolism to Personal Jewellery

When you are looking for a symbol of love, memory or connection, you are often already closer to a piece of jewellery than you think. For a meaningful piece rarely begins with the question of metal or form. It begins with the question: what is meant to remain?

For couples seeking a truly personal sign, unique wedding rings or wedding rings as a symbol can carry this symbolism further. For memories, gifts or quiet signs, necklaces, meaningful rings and personal one-of-a-kind pieces are also well suited.

The RetinaSignature unites the universal language of symbols with the uniqueness of a person. This creates jewellery that does not just mean something, but belongs to someone.

Related RetinaDesign Pages

Further Topics

Jewellery That Makes Meaning Visible

A symbol can open a story. A RetinaSignature makes it personal. Discover jewellery that brings identity, memory and connection into an unmistakable form.

Get in touch →

Why Symbols Still Move Us Today

Our Definition of Meaningful Jewellery

The Six Levels of Symbolic Jewellery

The Cultural Level

The Personal Level

The Emotional Level

The Relational Level

The Identity Level

Discover Symbols by Meaning

Love & Connection

Heart

Rose

Infinity

Dove

Celtic Knot

Change & Nature

Butterfly

Lotus

Wave

Sun

Moon

Phoenix

Strength & Character

Lion

Wolf

Elephant

Bee

Owl

Crown

From the Universal Symbol to the RetinaSignature

Protection & Orientation

Anchor

Star

North Star

Hamsa

Eye

Key

Wholeness & Life's Path

Tree of Life

Triquetra

Yin and Yang

Mountains

Family & Origin

Tree of Life

Tree

Wolf

Elephant

Clover

Memory & Comfort

Feather

Angel

Star

Cross

Raven

Olive Branch

All Symbols at a Glance

From Symbolism to Personal Jewellery

Related RetinaDesign Pages

Concept

Rings

Consultation

Further Topics

Why People Need Symbols

Why People Wear Jewellery

The Six Levels of Meaningful Jewellery

Jewellery That Makes Meaning Visible