Irish ring
The Symbolic Virtues of a Claddagh ring
Love. Friendship. Loyalty. Three wonderful virtues creatively intertwined together in the design of an Irish Claddagh ring.
• The symbol of a heart denotes love.
• Two hands firmly holding the heart denote friendship.
• A crown atop the heart denotes loyalty. Claddagh rings are generally exchanged during an engagement ceremony or adorn the finger on getting married. However, they can also be given as a symbol of friendship. A Claddagh ring with the wearer?s birthstone is also very popular. Its symbolic origins are rooted in the Irish village of Claddagh.
It is stated that if you wear the ring on your right hand and the heart faces outward, you are conveying the message that you are single. If, however, the heart faces inward, it indicates that somebody has captured your heart. When worn on the left finger with the heart facing outward, you are stating that you are engaged. If the heart faces inward, you are indicating your married status.
Some Types of Claddagh Rings
• For that special day when you take your wedding vows, buy a Claddagh ring to express your feelings for your life partner. A ring made from silver could cost about $60, while rings in yellow gold start at about $250 to $260 (10k) and increase in price depending on the karats. White gold Claddagh rings are about a hundred dollars more expensive. The ones made from rose gold also look dynamic. It is a good idea to have a personalized wedding ring to express your feelings to each other. For example, you can have the words Love Forever engraved in the Gaelic language on the gold band.
• If you wish to have a traditional Claddagh ring with the crest of a Coat of Arms, the silver one is less expensive. A gent?s gold ring will have a starting price of about $350 and go all the way up to over $500. A similar lady?s ring with the same type of crest is cheaper. A silver ring will cost less than $200, while the price range of gold rings range from a little less than $300 to about $500.
• A gold Claddagh Birthstone ring looks absolutely stunning, and is a great gift to give a friend or to your sweetheart. For example, if your sweetheart?s birthday is in the month of February, gift her Claddagh ring that has the symbolic heart set with an amethyst. It is not very expensive just over $100. Add a personal touch by engraving her name on the inside of the gold band. It is real value for money!
The Symbolic Knots of Celtic Rings
Celtic rings with unusual designs in the form of knot patterns are also much sought after on the occasion of an engagement or wedding. They are also popular as ?promise rings. There is a constant debate on the meaning of a particular knot. There are many who dismiss the fact that a knot has any significance in the first place, rubbishing the idea that any of the knots symbolize love or fidelity or anything else. They claim that the knots are merely decorative patterns. However, there are others who have interpreted the loops and curls and twirls and brought out informative books on the Celtic symbols. While everyone else debates this knotty problem, we?ll have a look at some types of Celtic knots...
Some Celtic Patterns
• A Shield Knot is generally indicated by a square or any shape with four aspects. It is supposed to ward off evil influences.
• A Triskele pattern is one in which three spirals are intertwined together. Some state that in Celtic culture, these three spirals represent Sun, life hereafter and rebirth, while others state that it represents the earth, water, and the sky.
• A Shamrock symbol is considered to be one of the most ancient of Celtic symbols. This clover motif on an Irish ring is said to bring good luck to the wearer.
• An intricate pattern of a Tree represents the Celtic Tree of Life. The Celts regarded a tree as the very source of life food to eat, wood to make a weapon and as fuel, and the tree itself was a shelter against harsh climatic conditions. The oak tree, in particular, was considered sacred.
• You may come across a ring that has a face-like motif with leaves. This is supposed to be the Green Man or the God of Nature.
• Patterns that prominently have the motif of a Salmon are generally considered to be symbols of wisdom.
• Some Celtic rings will have animals (such as a wolf), residents of the sea (such as a mermaid), or vague patterns (known as V-rod or Z-rod). These are considered to be Pictish symbols.
Price Range of Celtic Rings
So how much will a Celtic ring cost A Celtic Knot Wedding Ring has a starting price of over $350 and goes up to over $600. If you prefer to have the ring set with diamonds all round the trim, it would cost over $1500. You also have the option of requesting the jeweler to incorporate Celtic knots of your choice. This, however, could be slightly more expensive.
Extra Note: A lot of customers go in for emerald settings in an Irish ring, because the green hue of an emerald is said to symbolic of Ireland. Also, do ask the jeweler about the best way to take care of your Irish ring. If your ring has intricate weaving patterns, extra care needs to be taken to maintain it.
To sum up, here are a few good reasons to buy an Irish ring:
• It is inspired by tradition.
• It is sentimental.
• It represents an eternal bond on the occasion of an engagement or wedding. Go Ahead! Don?t wait for March 17th to buy an Irish ring.
• buy one TODAY!
Note to the Reader:
The author of this article is neither a jewelry expert nor an expert on the symbolic patterns depicted on Irish rings! Do refer to some informative websites and guidebooks for a better idea on Irish rings. Also, the prices mentioned are only approximate rates and should not be considered to be actual costs. AND don?t forget to buy an Irish ring from a creditworthy source!
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