The insignia of the Order unite the eight-pointed cross with the shell of Saint James. The Grand Cross of the Order is a Maltese cross borne with the Jacob's shell.
The Maltese cross
The Maltese cross is a symbol used on Malta and throughout the world; it is found above all in the emblems of fire brigades, hospitals and other institutions of relief. The cross has four arms in the form of arrowheads, their points meeting at the centre. The white stands for purity and innocence.
The shell of Saint James
The Jacob's shell, or shell of Saint James, has been the Christian symbol of Saint James since the Middle Ages. The symbolism of the shell reaches further back: depictions of shells are known from Roman times, in which the shell was the symbol of birth and rebirth.
The medallion and the mantle
Following the developments of the sixteenth century, the Order adopted the eight-pointed cross worn upon the mantle, while the image of Saint James was retained in a round medallion upon the chain.