The butterfly is beautiful, airy, free and colourful. Few symbols carry so much lightness and joy.
A symbol of the soul
In Ancient Greece one and the same word – psyche – means both "soul" and "butterfly". The Greeks believed that when a person died, their soul flew away like a butterfly. That is why the butterfly is still a symbol of the immortal soul today.
A symbol of change
The life of a butterfly is one of nature's wonders: from caterpillar through cocoon to a winged creature. That is why it is the most beautiful symbol of metamorphosis – of growth, change and new beginnings.
A symbol of love
In China two butterflies flying together are a sign of eternal love. The legend of the two lovers Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who turn into a pair of butterflies after their death, is known as the "Chinese Romeo and Juliet".
The butterfly in jewellery
That is why a butterfly piece given to a woman can become a true amulet – for happy, lasting love and for courage in the face of life's changes. Butterflies in jewellery come in countless forms: airy pendants and earrings, brooches, bracelets and hair clips, with coloured crystals, enamel, pearls and mother-of-pearl.
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
