60 Hourglass Tattoo Ideas

At night when we lie down in the bedroom, time elapses with clock ticking. We don’t care doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. People who cherish time measure time. To stay positive in life, hourglass tattoo is notice us every existence on the planet. Stop worrying about the things that are irrelevant to our lives. Maybe all of this sounds you like something you’ve heard a thousand times, but it really is so. Tomorrow does not have to be the same as yesterday and today. Everything flows, everything changes.

Hourglass is one of the oldest ways for people to measure the time. A hourglass consists of two vessels connected with a narrow tube through which the finest sand flows. It can measure time from three to twelve minutes or more hours. The ancient Greeks used the hourglass to measure and keep track of time as early as 2000 BC. Instead of sand, the hourglass that time used powder of marble or eggshell.

The meaning of hourglass tattoo

A marine sandglass is a special design of time track device that is originated from the common hourglass. In long-distance navigation through the open ocean, the sandglass is the same important as the compass for the sailors. The hourglass also becomes a symbol that often appears on pirate flags. A white skull over crossed bones with an hourglass underneath is to inform people who saw it that time was running out. The only option to take to avoid death is surrendering. A hourglass with wings means the time is flying away.

Hourglass is also meaningful in modern days. For example, in England, people place the hourglass in the coffin as a symbol that means the sand of life has expired. So a hourglass tattoo represents the meaning of the transience of human life. Hourglass is also popular in many works of modernism that are very well known such as: Walt Disney’s cartoon ‘Aladdin’, in the book ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, the video game ‘Persian Prince: The Sands of Time’.

Hourglass tattoo designs

Time is flying. It is the most valuable to spend time with family, friends and those who make us happy. Devote your time to truly important things and people who are meant a lot to you. Devote the time to your dreams. Whether you win or fail, always stays positive with the hourglass tattoo on the body.

Symbolic meaning of the hourglass is emphasizing the importance of time and that the available time is running out. For this lady in the picture might time is running out in heart of owner of tattoo.

Like the black tattoo in one color and this tattoo in pink and blue versions are always modern. Pink and blue are, even for me, evergreen combination in every combination of anything.

The rose and skull

Rose symbolizes love and skull reminds people of death. However it also links to the deep love. Although they are in the different chambers, there’s nothing that can stop their connection.

Very nice combination of black and white tattoo and the tattoo in color.

Lighthouse in the upper bowl as a symbol of hope and hourglass as a symbol of the passing of time. For his plan there is still time. It is never too late so always fight to the last breath for your dreams

Like a fairy tale ”Sleeping Beauty” this tattoo looks very interesting.

This tattoo on the inside of the hand looks very modern. Combination of colors is perfect so that you only have to choose and find the right tattoo artists!

Small but very challenging tattoo on his shoulder with a nice message in Spanish which always sounds a bit exotic.

This hourglass reminds me of Aladdin’s magic lamp. Maybe your wish will not be realistic but it will definitely look very desirable to your hand.

Hourglass and Pentagons

Tattoo is personal which means that you don’t have to follow mainstream understanding. For instance, the abstract device is probably of special meanings for the person who wears the tattoo.

Fill every minute of your life with love, do what you love and spend time with the person you love. Remember happiness is not in money because it is temporal, happiness is to find the right person who will love you and respects you even the next hundred years …

Everything flows, everything changes. In the upper vessel at this tattoo we have dried tree without leaves in the lower vessel tree which is green and lively. Remember the sadness does not last forever, nothing lasts forever and no matter how hard is now, just close your eyes and think: ”This too shall pass”.

Sandglass 3D dotwork tattoo

To measure the time is accurate measurement. Like the geometric lines and sands in the hourglass, the life is also the combination of countless moments.

If you pay attention to the lower vessel you will see a tattoo of a man with a child. Very often, because of many obligations and job we may neglect our children and do not spend enough time with them. Help your child about everything he needs, because you’ll never know when is the last time he asks you for help. He will be more independent, have his own friends, move into his own apartment … Spend every moment with your child well, because time flies.

Sometimes hourglass symbolizes death. In many pictures death holds an hourglass in his hand.

Start your day with some good news, music, a few pages of good book and do not let your day be destroyed by bad news given from the early morning. If you take this my advice I’m sure that your days will be fuller and more beautiful.

Clock and skull in hourglass

On pirate flags hourglass warned the enemy that his days are numbered and that his time is up. So, in one way, an hourglass used confident and strong warriors to send a warning to the enemy to give up the fight on time.

While I researched, I came across the information that US company ”Rapid Reality” offered employees an increase in earnings, about 15% if the company logo tattoo on their body.

One of the most common elements that people tattoo are roses. This flower has always been a favorite for most people. Depending of the color of the roses can be sent different messages. Thus, the yellow rose symbolized jealousy, red love, etc.

Small tattoos can be just as effective and impressive as large ones. The realistic hourglass is always indicator for the wearer that the time is running out.


Geometric shapes are always popular so here are in the forefront of this tattoo.

The beautiful black and white hourglass tattoo

This piece paints the dynamic sand flow in the hourglass with the beautiful shedding. It takes a lot of experience in order to successfully do this tattoo definitely.

Our time in this world is short, and let’s not waste it on unimportant people and irrelevant things. Time can not be restored. Be careful on who you spend it. This could be the message of this beautiful tattoo.

As you can see, I still insist on sending the message with tattoo. It’s nice that tattoo has hidden meaning and not be mere images without meaning.

Hourglass rib tattoo for women

Nothing complicated but very interesting tattoo on the armpit, clean lines and without much detail.


In containers of hourglass you can tattoo some detail important to you in life. This guy decided for exotic night in a desert. Probably right there happened meeting or event that marked his life.

Colorful miniature hourglass tattoo on forearm

If you are going to get your first tattoo, you may start from a small tattoo. Make sure to choose a salon that meets all sanitary conditions.

Black and always modern, somewhat mystical tattoo. No superfluous elements, the lines are clear … Very challenging and seductive.

This tattoo is another proof that even without superfluous colors and details, you can have a beautiful tattoo.

This gentleman or a lady great importance give to the family, it can be clearly seen from this tattoo of hourglass where’s in the upper container house, and in the lower fire. Warm home is the warmest and the most peacefully place for all people.

The process of tattooing is also a testing of bravery, because depending on where you are tattooing tattoo process can be more or less painful.

Rich tattoo in various colors, which somehow reminds me of modern courageous hero who could be the right choice. The tattoo has it all, rough seas, brightly sky, musical notes, symbols of a life what is definitely exciting.

This tattoo is a little bit dark, it might be done in the harsh moments in life when it seemed to person there’s no way out. Hourglass, a withering candle, dried tree … On what reminds you this tattoo?

Tattoos have become a trend in recent years. People get tattoos mainly for aesthetic reasons, and in the summer when people wear scanty wardrobe they proudly show small works of art on their bodies.

Never copy someone else’s tattoo, of your idol for example, because you are not he, and later you might want to change it and it’s not easy like change of style of dressing, hair color etc.

Very small, beautiful, delicate and seductive tattoo for brave ladies of the 21st century. All exudes femininity.

If you write the name in the tattoo, make sure you choose names of important persons for you. Some people, you may want to delete from your life. When they are no longer part of your beautiful memories you may want to delete them from your body and it will not be easy. Tattoo artists say that the hardest for them is changing old tattoos that the client wants to change. Most often that are the names printed on the body.

There are different tattoo styles such as tribal, celtic tattoo, old school tattoo, thin lines, realistic, hot rod, free hand, scratcher, grammatical system of Asiatic, Oriental style, flour, etc.

To the most tattoo masters favorite work are large tattoos that become the real body art or works of art as I like to say.

Somewhat mystical tattoo definitely choice of a great lover of the sea and sailing.

It is very important to carefully choose the image you want to tattoo. Don’t chose tattoo studio because of affordable price because it is not a measure of quality of service, and the most important: never, never do anything in life to impress others but only for yourself – same is when you make a decision about tattooing.

Realistic tattoo with flowing blood in hourglass

Red – black version is a bit extravagant and always mystical. It seems to me that is most often chosen by a real lover of magic and mysticism.

Except aesthetic reasons of tattooing, in many cultures people get tattoos because of customary and religious reasons.

If you want to do the tattoo of hourglass but you are not sure where and how you can opt for a small tattoo on the inside of the hand, upper arm, forearm or above ankle.

Peace and explosion in hourglass tattoo

Tattooing is a continual introduction of different colored ink below the surface layer of the skin with special needles or better said special tattoo machine.

There are claims that the oldest tattoo is found on the body of ice man (actually 57 tattoos) who is old about 5200 years old. Tattoos on bodies old Egyptian mummy dating back to about 2000 years before our era.

On this tattoo is an interesting combination of old and modern elements. Old elements represents the hourglass and the candle, and new one bulb in the lower bowl.

Skull and sand in the hourglass

The tribe Maori have been doing tattoos on face to hide the traces of aging, and today same do some African tribes in Mali. In ancient Rome, slaves were tattooed. A tribe on the west coast of Sumatra do tattoos on the whole body and on man’s body writes story of a successful hunt for example…

Interesting tattoo made of clean lines.

The skulls somehow always associate me on pirates and dangerous guys. The sand is leaking, the clock is ticking, and this day easily goes in no return.

Another beautiful tattoo for the prettier sex. Days fly, with the advancement of technology faster and faster and so try to spend them on the most beautiful way.

There are medical tattoos, which are from natural medical reasons so diabetics or people suffering from certain serious diseases can tattoo a tattoo that shows their disease what is important in emergency so thy will warn health workers on that way.

Another rose as a symbol of love and hourglass as a symbol of transience. Do not think so because then you will not be able to all you to dear person, and the relationship will not be long term. Give it to him all your heart and so much demand from another person. Don’t demand less than what you are giving, there is no reason for that.

The fiery red color is still modern it symbolizes love, energy, passion and power. With this color your tattoo can not be unnoticed.

Tattoo of sea and sea storm is worthy of a great lover of the sea. It looks bold and courageous and will certainly never go out of fashion.

People often prefer to tattoo a message on their body, or some interesting thought. Take care while choosing an idea for the decoration of your body, because it will forever decorate you.

After your tattoo is done carefully cultivate your tattoo to prevent infection and to make it last longer. The best advice about the care you can get naturally from your tattoo master who should be perfectly versed in this.

If you take any medication, ask your doctor can you do tattoo. Aspirin should not drink before tattooing, you should not drink alcohol. Get some sleep well before tattooing and eat a big meal. If you suffer from epilepsy, diabetes, hemophilia or any similar illness consult your doctor before doing tattoo.

This tattoo screams that time is running and you can not stop it!

This tattoo is a bit frightening. Some tough guy sure is its owner. Let your tattoo be your trademark, and represents you. You alone choose the image that will tattooed on your body without the influence of other people, but of course in cooperation with the tattoo master.

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