14K White Gold Genuine Marquise Tanzanite
and Diamond Celtic Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh Ring

The claddagh symbol is used on a variety of jewelry and is a popular gift. It is a particularly popular designs for rings and can signify anything from friendship to marriage.

What Is The Claddagh?

The claddagh is a symbol formed from two hands joined with a heart shape between them. Sometimes this heart is simply suggested by the shape of the fingers, at others it is an explicit part of the design. When the claddagh is used in jewelry products the heart is often used as a mount point for a gemstone. The original form of the claddagh also incorporated a crown over the heart however some modern renditions omit this.

History

Although claddagh jewelry is often sold in celtic stores, the symbol appears to date back some 300 years - a time much more recent than the era of the ancient celts. However some people believe it to have ancient celtic roots, possibly dating back to the older fede rings. Some say the two hands represent Anu and Dagda, the mother and father of the celtic gods. The crown is said to represent Beathauile.

The history of the modern claddagh is uncertain, though it is usually assumed to be connected with the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, just outside Galway city. The village no longer exists as a distinct entity, the area it once occupied having been absorbed by the expanding Galway city.

Of the various tales of the origin of the claddagh one the the most widely accepted is that it was designed by one Richard Joyce. He was reportedly captured by Algerian pirates and spent years in captivity, working as forced labour for a metalsmith, possibly a goldsmith. Here he learned the art of jewelry making. When eventually released Joyce returned to Galway where he made the first claddagh ring which he presented to his bride for their wedding.

Wearing the Claddagh

Many people simply wear the claddagh as they would any other ring. However tradition specifies three distinct ways of wearing it:

- Right hand, heart facing out: single and looking
- Right hand, heart facing in: in a relationship
- Left hand: engaged, married or other long term commitment