Buccellati. Rabbit brooch in white gold with pearl, brown diamonds and rubies © Buccellati 2015

A symbol of abundance but also of vulnerability, the rabbit is traditionally associated with fertility and procreation and therefore with desire and sentiment. But its meaning is also closely tied to the sequence of the seasons and changes in the earth, and particularly to spring, the season of rebirth, new beginnings and new growth. The fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac, people born under the sign of the rabbit are cautious, sociable and full of compassion. They are highly creative and dynamic yet also avoid conflict. For its ties to the soil and to fertility, the rabbit can be seen as a symbol of earth itself.