An Irish wedding isn’t complete without a bride or husband wearing a Claddagh ring. Anyone who is not Irish may be perplexed by this odd-looking jewelry. Two hands grasp a heart with a crown above the heart in a Claddagh ring made of gold or silver. It can be used as an engagement or wedding ring or as a token of friendship.
The history of Claddagh rings
The ring’s origins are the subject of several stories. Anecdotes have been passed down concerning Margarethe Joyce, a member of the illustrious Joyce family. A Spanish businessman, Domingo de Rona, was her husband. However, she was left with a considerable inheritance after he died in Spain. Oliver Ogffrench, mayor of Galway at the time, was her husband. Heir to her first marriage fortune, she used the money to build bridges in Connacht. One day, an eagle saw fit to thank her for her selfless efforts by dropping the Claddagh ring in her lap. Another legend has it that a Prince was smitten with a lowly maid. Her boyfriend created an engagement ring with the meanings of friendship, loyalty, and love in mind in order to reassure her father that his feelings were sincere and that he had no plans to use her. Father’s blessing was given after father heard the explanation of the ring’s meaning and offered his blessing to the proposal. There are some other myths regarding the origin of Claddagh rings as well.
Who should wear a Claddagh ring?
Claddagh rings are a universal jewelry style with several connotations. This ring is considered to symbolize love, with the hands symbolizing friendship, the heart indicating pure passionate love, and the crown a symbol of loyalty. There are several reasons why someone could wear an engagement ring, but the Claddagh band is one of the most popular. The Claddagh ring was traditionally passed down from mother to daughter and retained within the family as an heirloom in Irish culture. However, anyone with a passion for loyalty, friendship, and love can wear a Claddagh ring.
How to wear a Claddagh ring
For centuries, the Claddagh Ring has been the symbol of Irish marriage. In terms of how the ring is worn, it means one of three things:
- Wedding ring: To wear a wedding ring, place it on your right hand with your heart facing outwards.
- Relationship: The heart should face inward when worn on the right hand.
- Engagement ring: The heart is worn outwardly on the left hand.
You always have the choice of wearing your Claddagh ring on any of your fingers and pointing it in whatever direction you like. Suppose you have a wedding band on your index finger, and you enjoy the way the ring appears on it. Even if you’re single, you could prefer the way the ring appears on your ring finger on the left hand. Feel free to fiddle with your ring as you choose. It is entirely up to you how you want to wear a Claddagh ring; there is no right or wrong way to do so.
Diamond rings in Vancouver
Our collection of engagement ring designs includes a varied variety of diamond rings, which are the traditional choice for engagement jewelry and diamond wedding rings, among other options. Our collection of lab-grown diamond rings in Vancouver is an excellent alternative to traditional engagement rings. We also have custom engagement rings where you can choose the color of the metal and have your own design.
