Mahou Shoujo Madoka - symbols (short thoughts)

Hi hi... right before I sleep, I will post something really short.  I'm going to write it quite hastily and without too much organization... sorry... need sleep.

I noticed that, aside from the Soul Gem, that most of the Mahou Shoujo's have an additional symbol on their finger.  I didn't notice it before, not till I saw the diamond symbol on Akemi Homura's finger nail in Ep 7.  Akemi Homura also has a diamond shaped device that she uses most memorably in Ep7.  Later on, while looking for more symbols, I noticed that it made an appearance in a previous episode but unfortunately, I forgot to note it down.

ep8

ep5

As early as Ep5, we already see that Sayaka has a "C" on her finger.  It's just that I didn't notice it then.  I only noticed it in Ep8.

Sakura Kyoko's symbol is an ellipse. It's kind of faint in this screen capture, you can barely see it but it's there.

I'm not sure if there is any huge significance to these symbols.  As far as I can tell, they simply indicate what kind of weapon these girls use.  Akemi Homura's weapon is a "diamond" shaped thing that she wears on her hand.  Miki Sayaka's weapon is a saber which has a curved blade, hence the "C".  And Sakura Kyoko's weapon is a spear and the "ellipse" is probably just a symbol representing the sharp tip at the end of her spear.

I tried to find Tomoe Mami's symbol on her third finger nail but I was unable to find it. That's not to say that she doesn't have one, it's just that I was unable to find it.  If she really doesn't have one, then I suppose it could mean something.  But I really don't know, it could simply be that I just couldn't find it.

same scene as the above
pix of Sayaka's nail

These symbols aren't that consistently used, strangely enough, and quite often they aren't on that third finger nail.. For example, in Ep8, in that very same scene, just a few shots before that image with a "C" on her finger, Sayaka's finger nail did not have any symbols on it at all. 

I find this lack of consistency with regards to these symbols kind of strange.  It seems to me that if they were going to use them, they might as well just have drawn them into most of the scenes instaed of just scattered appearances.

Anyway, I hope to post up a post soon about the various visual motifs used so far in Mahou Shoujo Madoka.  Maybe I'll do it tomorrow night before the next ep airs or maybe it'll be later.  It depends on my schedule tomorrow night... I might have to return home late again and if that happens, this post will have to wait.

Oh, and on a somewhat unrelated note.  CD Japan has begun to offer some of Kalafina, FictionJunction, Kajiura Yuki's concert memorabilia like T-Shirts, pamphlets etc. I've provided links for both Kalafina and FictionJunction/Kajiura Yuki.  These aren't affiliate links, by the way, in case this is a concern for some of you. If you're a rabid fan like me :) , head over there and see if you want to get anything.  They are going pretty fast, so I'm not sure if they'll have anything left by the time you get there.

Alrighty... time for bed. :) Oyasuminasai. :)