Updated April 2025: This post now includes fresh insights linking the symbolism of circles with Easter, springtime renewal, and our Infinity jewellery collection. New visuals and connections to recent videos and curated edits have been added to enrich your reading experience.
Have you ever paused to consider the symbolism of circles — those perfectly rounded shapes that we so often take for granted? They are quietly powerful, subtly ever-present, and deeply woven into the fabric of nature, art, and belief systems.
From the turning of the seasons to the shape of eggs at Easter, the circle stands for much more than aesthetic elegance. With spring blossoming all around us and Easter just behind us, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this timeless symbol and how it has inspired my designs — especially the Infinity Collection.
In jewellery, the circle is perhaps best known through the ring — a universal symbol of love, unity and infinity. Its unbroken line mirrors the eternal cycle of life. Whether gifted as a token of affection or worn as a personal talisman, a ring holds meaning far beyond its form.
In this updated post, I take you on a journey through the meanings we attach to circles, why they resonate so strongly at this time of year, and how they have been reimagined through my jewellery. I also touch on why circles feel so comforting, so magnetic — and so necessary in a world that craves wholeness and renewal.
Examples of circles , circular shapes in the natural world and in man-made creations. It is ubiquitous.
The Universal Symbolism of Circles
The circle is a shape that transcends cultures and time. It is often symbolic of unity, infinity, and perfection due to its symmetrical and continuous nature.
In various ancient cultures, the circle held sacred significance. The ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang for example embodies the duality within the circle. It serves to illustrate the constant dance between opposing forces in the natural world.
Even today, circular patterns known as mandalas hold spiritual significance and are used for meditation and ritualistic purposes.
Spring: A Promise of Renewal
In mythology, spring is often linked with themes of fertility and rebirth, and it is easy to see why. As the weather becomes milder and the days longer, nature awakens in the form of spring. This season is a symbol of renewal, growth, and the promise of fresh beginnings. It is a joyful exuberant moment filled with renewed optimism and energy. From the delicate blossoms, the chirping of birds, and the scent of fresh blooms, the Earth celebrates life’s resilience and cyclical journey.
The Circle As An Echo to Spring
The circular shape, with its innate sense of wholeness and continuity, mirrors the cyclical nature of the seasons. As spring breathes life into the world, the symbolism of the circle illustrates that perpetual renewal. During Easter for example, eggs, which are circular and associated with fertility, become a symbol of resurrection and rebirth, thus reinforcing the theme of the eternal cycle of life.
Beyond the Symbolism of Circles Why Do We Love Them So Much?
A preference for circular shapes is deeply ingrained in all of us from birth. There are 3 main possible explanations:
The fact that we associated angular lines and sharp angles with danger while curved line evoke safety. Multiple scientific studies conducted since early 1900s have consistently shown such findings. As the ultimate curvilinear shape, the circle embodies all of the attributes that attract us: it is a safe, gentle, pleasant, graceful, dreamy, and even beautiful shape that evokes calmness, peacefulness, and relaxation.
Then the fact that we are attracted to the roundedness of an infant’s face. Facial features—large eyes, a rounded face, and a high forehead—are perceived as more naïve, honest, and innocent. Human faces and the emotions they express rely on simple geometric shapes: the circular happy face versus the triangular angry one. This idea touches on deep survival instincts and social behaviour: our need to read our fellow humans’ facial expressions and our need to detect threats as quickly as possible.
Lastly the third explanation may be the way we actually see the world. Our eyes are themselves spherical thus creating a natural circular frame for our visual field. This may contribute to explain why we are inherently attracted to matching geometric shapes and in particular to the almost hypnotic effect of concentric circles.
The Ring: Jewellery’s Most Meaningful Circle
Of all circular forms in jewellery, the ring stands out as the most recognisable and meaningful. It’s more than a decorative band — it’s a profound emblem of human connection.
In cultures across the globe, rings have marked everything from matrimonial vows and family lineage to spiritual protection and personal identity. Ancient Egyptians believed the circle represented eternity, and the hollow space inside the ring symbolised a gateway — not just a shape, but a portal to something deeper.
In a modern context, rings still hold emotional weight. Think of how we reach for rings during milestones — engagements, birthdays, graduations, bereavements. The act of placing a circle on the finger becomes a ritual of meaning, a quiet promise we wear every day.
What’s more, a ring is one of the most personal pieces we can own. It lives against the skin, often becoming part of the wearer. It’s touched, turned, fidgeted with — a tactile extension of memory and self.
In my own work at Essemgé, I love the challenge and intimacy of designing rings. Whether minimalist and architectural or richly textured and expressive, they become tiny sculptures with lasting presence — wearable heirlooms that echo our stories.
This spring, as nature begins its cycle anew, a ring can become a personal emblem of renewal — a small circle with infinite meaning.
In Conclusion
As you immerse yourself in the wonders of spring, let’s take a moment to appreciate the profound symbolism encapsulated within the circle. It serves as a reminder that, much like the seasons, life is a continuous journey of renewal and interconnectedness. This Spring let the circle’s timeless symbolism resonate within you, guiding you towards infinite possibilities and new beginnings. And to fully immerse yourself in this renewed positive energy and optimism, pick a delightful adornment from the Infinity jewellery collection. It will give you that glorious uplifting feeling and help you flourish. Enjoy!
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