The Claddagh (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) ring is probably the most popular Irish ring design known almost in the whole world.
This special Irish ring represents love, loyalty and friendship.
Two hands holding a heart with a crown can be found on rings, pendants, bracelets and many more jewellery items.
The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.
The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of the same name in county Galway. The ring, as currently known, was first produced in the 17th century.
Claddagh design has been remodeled, modernized, deconstructed, simplified or made more complicated since moment of its birth.
I have taken a new approach to Claddagh ring while working on this amazing project. I had to create a ring for a wedding anniversary for a gentleman, who wanted to surprise his wife with it. I was surprised myself when I found out myself he not his wife were Irish. But they lived and worked in this beautiful country for a very long time. Ireland has become their home, so he wanted to mark their special 10th wedding anniversary with an Irish token of love.
As a jewellery designer I didn’t want to copy the ring it was. Also my client wanted to be unique, like nothing alike on the jewellery Claddagh market.
Tapered 18ct white gold shank has been engraved with 5 lines on each side as a symbol of hands. I chose red/ pink rhodolite garnet gemstone, in a trillion cut, to become heart of this ring. I set it in 18ct yellow gold to emphasize amazing colour of the gem. Golden crown is just a perfect complement of the heart.
I wish happy couple many more years together in a happiness!!!
Thank you for trusting me with this bespoke design. Alex
