Long before modern minimalism made clean lines and bold shapes fashionable, geometric forms held deep symbolic meaning across civilizations. From sacred mandalas to Art Deco statement pieces, shapes like circles, triangles, and squares have been used in jewelry to express spirituality, power, harmony, and identity.
Long before modern minimalism made clean lines and bold shapes fashionable, geometric forms held symbolic meaning across civilizations. From sacred mandalas to Art Deco statement pieces, shapes like circles, triangles, and squares have been used in jewelry to express spirituality, power, harmony, and identity.
At Sundara Joon, our artists draw from this timeless visual language to create pieces that are meaningful. Each shape carries a story—spiritual, cultural, or emotional—allowing jewelry to become more than adornment. It becomes a personal symbol, worn with intention.
Circles: Wholeness, Eternity, and Connection
The circle is one of the oldest and most universal symbols. Without beginning or end, it represents infinity, unity, and the cyclical nature of life.
Cultural meanings:
In many Indigenous North American traditions, the circle represents the sacred hoop, symbolizing harmony, interconnectedness, and the cycles of nature.
In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, mandalas use circular patterns to express cosmic order and spiritual wholeness.
In European jewelry, circular rings have long symbolized eternal love and commitment.
In jewelry, circles often appear in hoop earrings, pendants, and stacking rings, symbolizing connection, protection, and eternity. At Sundara Joon, circular designs often highlight gemstones or mixed materials at the center, representing balance between self and the wider world.
Triangles: Strength, Transformation, and Harmony
The triangle is both stable and dynamic. Pointing upward, it symbolizes power, ambition, and spiritual ascent. Pointing downward, it often represents femininity, intuition, and the natural world.
Cultural meanings:
In Ancient Egypt, triangular forms echoed the pyramids—symbols of strength, ascension, and eternal life.
In Hinduism, upward and downward triangles are combined in the Sri Yantra, representing the union of masculine and feminine energies.
In Celtic symbolism, the triquetra (three interlaced triangles) represented life, death, and rebirth.
In Sundara Joon’s collections, triangles often appear as pendants, earring frames, or multi-shape compositions, celebrating their dual nature: grounded yet reaching higher.
Squares and Rectangles: Stability, Order, and Foundation
Squares represent structure, integrity, and grounding. In sacred geometry, the square links the physical world, the four directions, and the four elements.
Cultural meanings:
In Chinese philosophy, the square symbolizes Earth, while the circle represents Heaven. This design is found in architecture and ritual objects.
In Islamic art, square grids underpin intricate geometric patterns, symbolizing the unchanging order of the divine.
In Renaissance Europe, square forms were associated with rationality, perspective, and humanism.
In jewelry, squares and rectangles convey balance and calm. Art Deco designers famously embraced these shapes, using bold rectangles and grids to symbolize modernity and order. Sundara Joon incorporates squares into both minimalist brass designs and statement silver pieces, often juxtaposed with organic materials to create harmony between the natural and the structured.
Hexagons: Nature’s Perfect Architecture
The hexagon is found in some of nature’s most sophisticated designs, from honeycombs to crystal formations. It represents efficiency, harmony, and interconnection.
Cultural meanings:
In Islamic architecture, repeating hexagons symbolize infinity and divine perfection.
In Celtic and Norse traditions, hexagonal knot work appeared in stone carvings, representing interconnectedness and protection.
The honeycomb, a naturally occurring hexagon, has been revered in cultures from Ancient Greece to Africa as a symbol of industry, sweetness, and community.
In jewelry, hexagons bring a contemporary yet timeless look. Hexagonal motifs pay homage to both natural intelligence, think bees and their hives, and architectural precision, often framing gemstones in clean, striking lines.
Lines and Bars: Direction, Movement, and Modernity
Straight lines, vertical or horizontal, convey direction and intent. Vertical lines suggest ambition and growth; horizontal lines imply grounding and calm.
Cultural meanings:
In Japanese design, vertical and horizontal lines are used in textile patterns and architecture to represent movement between heaven and earth.
African jewelry traditions often use linear arrangements of beads to mark lineage, milestones, or social status.
In European modernist jewelry, bar shapes became symbols of progress and sleek sophistication.
Bar necklaces and linear earrings have become modern staples, favored for their minimalist elegance. Yet their symbolism runs deeper: lines indicate pathways, journeys, and the space between points—a reminder that meaning often lies in the in-between.
Zigzags: Energy, Water, and Transformation
Zigzags are among the oldest decorative patterns found in human art. Their rhythmic, angular lines evoke movement, power, and elemental forces. Unlike straight lines, which suggest steadiness, zigzags bring dynamism and unpredictability—they are shapes in motion.
In Ancient Greek pottery and jewelry, zigzag patterns symbolized water and waves, reflecting both life-giving energy and change.
African jewelry and textiles often use zigzags to signifytransitions, journeys, and spiritual energy.
In Native American symbolism, particularly among Southwestern tribes, zigzags often representlightning—a powerful, transformative force associated with fertility, rain, and renewal.
Islamic and Moorish architecture incorporates zigzag borders (chevrons) to mark boundaries and movement, often framing sacred spaces.
In jewelry, zigzags appear as etched metal bands, beaded borders, or statement earrings, symbolizing vitality, creativity, and adaptability.
Abstract Geometries: Modern Expression Meets Ancient Roots
Contemporary jewelry often blends multiple shapes—circles with triangles, lines with hexagons, zigzags with curves—creating dynamic compositions that reflect personal identity in nuanced ways.
This practice echoes ancient traditions:
Islamic tilework, Hindu mandalas, and Byzantine mosaics layered shapes to express cosmic order and spiritual truth.
In the Art Deco era, bold geometric combinations symbolized innovation and modernity.
At Sundara Joon, artisans experiment with layered forms, mixed materials, and subtle asymmetries to create geometric pieces that are both artful and deeply wearable.
Sundara Joon: Geometry Reimagined
Geometric shapes transcend eras and geographies. They connect us to universal symbols while carrying unique meanings across cultures. At Sundara Joon, we reinterpret these forms through a modern lens, using ethically sourced materials and handcrafted techniques to create jewelry that speaks a timeless language of shape and symbolism.
Whether you gravitate toward the endless circle, the powerful triangle, or the vibrant zigzag, each piece invites you to wear not just a shape—but a story. You get to help choose the ending.
Discover geometric jewelry that speaks to you. Explore timeless forms reimagined for modern expression at Sundara Joon.
