Collection: Irish Hand and Heart Ring

Irish Hand and Heart Ring

Are you interested in purchasing a ring with an Irish heart and hand on it? How excited are you to learn about this? This article may be of interest to you. It will provide you with all the information you need about this ring. You already know that Irish rings have a rich history. The Irish hand and heart ring have recently become very popular as everyone wants one.

In my opinion, the Irish hand and heart ring are one of the best designs of all time. It is only when you try to redesign a symbol as powerful as this one that you realize the real importance of its design. I have decided to use the Crown of the High Kings of Ireland as my first interpretation, rather than the general crown that other artists are going to use. I find that this method adds a sense of historical significance to the design, and it also provides a direct connection to the rich history and heritage of Ireland. In addition to purchasing the design as a ring, you may also purchase it as a delicate and medium-sized pendant.

What is an Irish hand and heart ring?

In addition to being known as the "Claddagh ring," this ring was also made in Ireland the first time around, which is why it is also known as the "Irish ring." It is a ring that has a heart with a crown on top of the heart, where two hands are clasped together. Aside from these elements, each of them has its own meaning and significance. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents true love, and the crown signifies loyalty.

What Is The Meaning Behind The Irish Ring?

I believe it is important for you to understand the meaning behind the Irish ring if you are wearing it as your wedding ring. In Ireland, it is common for Irish rings to be passed down from generation to generation, usually from mothers to daughters.

In the modern-day, you can give your lover an Irish hand and heart ring, as it's a familiar wedding ring or engagement ring in Irish tradition. In general, this ring symbolizes not only love but also loyalty and friendship. 

As you inspect the ring, you will notice that it has three parts. In addition, each one of them has a particular meaning that may apply to both married people who use them as wedding rings as well as friends who wear rings in order to show loyalty. 

The History of the Irish Hand and Heart Ring

According to some theories, the Irish Claddagh ring was based on preexisting designs of "Fede" rings from Roman times, which featured two hands interlocked together to indicate a promise of loyalty and love established by marriage. The word "fede" is a shortened version of the Italian word "fidere", which means "hands in faith". The word "fede" was also a popular symbol in Europe during the Middle Ages.

In spite of some uncertainty surrounding the exact origin of the Irish ring, it is generally acknowledged that 17th-century Irish goldsmith Richard Joyce popularized the modernized design that is still worn today. Richard Joyce was originally from Claddagh (today Galway) in County Meath, Ireland. He was a fisherman who was captured and sold into slavery by Algerian pirates when they seized his boat and enslaved him.

It was then that Joyce was sold to a goldsmith, who taught him the art of goldsmithing. He is alleged to have stolen small pieces of gold while he was in captivity, accumulating them over time until he was able to create a Claddagh ring that he hoped to be able to give to his love, Margaret, who was living in Ireland at the time. Later, Joyce returned to Ireland and presented the ring to Margaret to be worn as a wedding ring for the rest of the couple's lives. The original ring still exists, and it was acquired by the Galway City Museum in Ireland in 2020. The museum plans to display the original ring in 2023. 

As you can see above, this is the original Richard Joyce Claddagh ring! On the ring, you can see that it is inscribed with his maker's mark, RI, as well as the initials of other owners of the ring. Claddagh rings are often worn by Irish people to pay tribute to their heritage. The Claddagh ring has become a treasured family heirloom among Irish families and is often passed down from one generation to another (usually from mother to daughter) as part of an Irish tradition. Upon the presentation of the ring, the relative would say, "With these hands, I give you my heart and crown it with my loyalty to the recipient." 

In today's society, Claddagh rings can be worn by both men and women as wedding rings, and sometimes even as friendship rings. The Claddagh rings have traditionally been simple silver or gold bands without gemstones or other embellishments. Today, however, Claddagh rings are often set with heart-shaped stones, diamond accents, Celtic knots, and other embellishments that adorn them. The choice of the center stone being a birthstone is a popular choice, as it adds a bit of extra personalization to these rings. There are even a number of jewelry pieces based on the Claddagh design that have been made for other occasions, including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

You can start a long and beautiful relationship by creating an Irish hand and heart ring that is unique to the one you love. Our goal is to work with you to create a design that is as unique and meaningful as your relationship with your loved one, whether it is for your spouse or significant other, a friend, or a family member. Make the ring truly one-of-a-kind by picking a birthstone for the center, engraving the Irish design on the band, and adding a Celtic knot. Let us work with you to create the perfect design for your ring. 

Irish rings are a symbol of friendship, loyalty, and love 

For more than 300 years, the Irish ring has been a symbol of love and unity. This classic Irish hand and heart ring is a wonderful gift for a loved one, significant other, friend, or family member, no matter what the occasion. It's a wonderful way to show off one's Irish heritage or simply express one's appreciation for another person. 

Irish rings are made up of three elements, each of which has a special meaning:

  1. Two hands represent friendship.
  2. Love is represented by a heart.
  3. The crown is a symbol of loyalty 

I have designed this design to represent a special bond between a couple, a family, or a friendship that can never be broken. 

In addition, the way a ring is worn symbolizes the wearer's relationship status as well:

* This ring indicates to the wearer that they are either married or engaged by wearing it on the left hand.

   * Usually, if the heart points towards the wrist, it is an indication that the wearer is married.

   * When the wearer's heart is pointing away from the wrist, it is a sign that they are engaged in something.

* Wearing the ring on the right hand indicates that the wearer is in a relationship or single and is open to finding love.

   * There is an indication that the wearer is in a relationship if the heart is pointing towards the wrist.

   * Usually, when the heart is pointing away from the wrist, it indicates that the wearer is single and perhaps open to finding love.

Irish hand and heart ring wearing guide

The following are some guidelines for wearing rings according to different relationships. 

* When You're Single, Wear the Irish Hand and Heart Ring.

It represents a person who is single and possibly looking for love when it is worn on the right hand, with the heart's point facing the fingertips. When you are single and want to show that you are available to give your love to another, wear the ring on your right hand with the point of the heart facing your fingertips as a way to show that you are available for love.

* When you're in a relationship, here's how to wear the Irish ring.

Symbolizing that the wearer of the ring is in a relationship when worn on the right hand, the heart is facing towards the wrist. You should wear the ring on the ring finger of your right hand with the heart's point facing you if you are dating someone, as this will show you are not married but with another person and you are not searching for romance.

* How to Wear the Irish Ring When You’re Engaged

If the ring was worn on the left hand, the heart would point toward the fingertips, and traditionally, this would signify that the wearer was engaged. Therefore, if you are engaged and want to let the world know that you are engaged, wear your engagement ring on your left hand with the heart's point facing your fingertips. This shows that you have found the person you want to spend your life with, but you have not made your vows yet.

* How to wear the Irish hand and heart ring when you're married

When you are married, you wear the ring pointing inwards as a symbol that your heart has been taken. When one is married, the ring can still be worn. However, the wearer will often Switch it back to the right hand with the heart facing towards the wearer. It is important to note that these are not rigid guidelines.

Most people do not wear Irish hands and heart rings to show their romantic status, but because they want to be connected to their Irish heritage and to their traditional roots. Therefore, it is very normal to see people wearing rings on both hands and in a variety of positions, even though there is always a chance that they are keeping people guessing! It is also possible for people who would not like to wear it as a ring to wear it as a necklace; this is one alternative for those who wish to wear it as a ring but still believe in the tradition that the ring's meaning is related to the direction and hand it is worn on. 

Increase in popularity

During the 19th century, Irish hand and heart rings gained a great deal of popularity outside of Ireland. A mass exodus resulted from the Great Famine when many Irish people migrated to America and Canada on coffin ships. When a family moved abroad, Irish rings were often the only valuable items that they owned and, as a result, they held onto them very tightly.

Irish rings and traditions

As per Irish tradition, the Irish ring is passed down from mother to oldest daughter and should remain in the family for generations to come. There are many ways in which Claddagh rings can be worn, each representing a different status of the person who wears it.

As a symbol of love and friendship, the ring is traditionally taken to represent the wish that they reign supreme.

As a result of this, it is often said that people should only give a Claddagh ring to someone who loves them, regardless of what the type of love may be.

The ring may be interpreted by some people as representing the Christian tradition of the Holy Trinity, even though this is not the original meaning.

In addition to their introduction to North America in this century, they also gained popularity in England during this period. During the reign of Queen Victoria, she wore a ring known as a Claddagh ring, the very first ring ever made in Ireland for an English monarch.

A beautiful Irish hand heart ring makes a beautiful statement of love.

The choices available at Irish Rings Ireland are endless, whether you are looking to propose with a traditional Irish hand and heart ring or want to customize it to reflect your fiance's style and personality. There is a wide selection of styles in stock, including rings for both men and women, in a variety of colors and materials such as white gold, yellow gold, and silver. 

Claddagh rings and Irish engagement rings today.

A popular choice of engagement or wedding ring for both men and women continues to be an Irish hand and heart ring. Many people still opt for the traditional style of wearing a solid metal ring. Depending on the design, one of the styles could mix metals, perhaps making the heart silver and the crown and hand gold, or making the ring platinum and the symbols in white gold.

The heart, hands, and crown of a person can often be replaced by precious and semi-precious gems, as well as semiprecious gems. This timeless classic can be customized in any style you like, whether traditional or contemporary. So don't be afraid to add a modern twist to this timeless classic!

Whatever your passion for all things Irish is, or if you are just interested in your sweetheart, an Irish hand and heart ring can play an important role in your relationship. In this article, I have provided a lot of information related to this popular style of ring, which serves as a great foundation for understanding its characteristics.

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