Rings Jewelry

Irish Wedding Rings

There are a number of Irish Wedding Rings that include Spirals, Triskeles, and Triquetas, Shield Knots and Sun Symbols. The most popular ring by far is the Irish Claddagh and it is surrounded by a romantic legend.

The Claddagh is as was said, the most popular in Ireland. The ring symbolizes love, friendship , and loyalty. The ring is named for an Irish fishing village. The design of the Claddagh is constructed of two hands holding a heart with a crown on top of it. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.

Various traditions give different meanings to the ring depending on how it is worn. As a wedding ring it is worn on the left hand with the heart pointing inward to the wrist. As an engagement ring it is on the right hand with the heart pointing inward toward the wrist. For friendship it is worn on the right hand turned outward.

The legend of the Claddagh begins when a fisherman Richard Joyce and other crew members were captured by pirates shortly before Joyce was to be married. He was sold into slavery in Algiers and made the property of a goldsmith who taught him the craft of goldsmith. Joyce became the master of the craft. With is beloved back in Claddagh on his mind he fashioned the first Claddagh ring. The hands were to represent friendship, the heart was love, and the crown represented loyalty and fidelity.

In 1698 King Georges III agreed to free all of his subjects. Richard Joyce was once again free. His slave master offered Joyce his daughter in marriage and half of his wealth if he would stay in Algiers. Joyce refused the offer and instead returned home to Claddagh where he found his love waiting for him. Neither of them had married. Upon discovering this, Joyce gave his love the ring and they were married shortly thereafter.

The ring was dubbed The Claddagh because of the village Joyce and his Bride were from. There were others who made the ring much later and added jewels and an intricate crown design. The basic hands holding a crowned heart has never changed. Joyce wanted something that would his love for his Beloved.

The Claddagh today is as popular as it ever was. The basic design of the ring has not changed but now there is more intricacies in the crown, gemstones or jewels can be used to fashion the heart, and the hands are simply hands. The ring can be made of silver, gold or basically any metal.

The design is the clasped hands of the ‘fede’ or faith rings. These rings date from Roman times and were popular in the Middle Ages. The ring is worn now by many to speak to their Irish heritage. The Claddagh tells the story of two lovers who are separated and yet their love and commitment withstood the passage of time. It’s simple design and my heritage influenced my decision to purchase a Claddagh.

Looking for unique engagement rings?

By Martin Smith

Cheap Diamond Engagement Rings

It is true that the wedding and engagement ceremony will never stop. As long as they are involved in the culture of humanity, people will definitely purchase engagement rings. You will come across variety of them that are available in the market. Lot money is invested, while buying one. The variety of material used in making them are gold, silver, diamond and many more. A majority of people would prefer to have diamond engagement rings.

It is true that you will come across many people who would prefer to have cheap engagement rings. You should know that buying a cheap one does not mean that you will compromise on the fashion and quality. You will come across many companies that will offer them at a lower cost. It is better to buy your engagement rings from such companies as it will help you to save lot of money.

If you are planning to buy cheap diamond engagement ring then it is better for you to research. You should look at the correct place. It is easy to get one with better quality. If you are willing to purchase a cheap one then it is advisable for you to explore the World Wide Web. Over the World Wide Web, you will come across many websites that will help you to get a cheap diamond engagement ring. It is better for you to go through different online shops. This will help you to get different options. At the same time, you will be able to compare the quality of design that is offered by the online shops. Make sure you do not forget to compare the rates of the ring.

On the other hand, cheap rings can also be found on local jeweler shop. It is not difficult to get engagement rings with lower cost. However, it is depends upon the time that you invest in research. It is true that varieties of diamonds are available in the market. You should buy a low karat diamond. This will help you to reduce the cost. You should know that cheap engagement rings will not have variety of patterns and design.

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By Robert Grazian

Wedding Ring Tattoo – Three Reasons to Opt For It

There are a lot of things to think about when you are planning to get married. First there’s the place on where you want to get married. And then, there’s the food and drinks that will be served in the reception, the people that you’ll be inviting, your wedding dresses, the time and day of the wedding, and of course, your wedding rings, because they are a must in a wedding. You can have no guests and no reception, pick any day and hour, but you can never have a wedding without the rings for you and your groom. There are a lot of them available in jewelry shops and internet sites, all for your own perusal and for you to match with your taste, lifestyle and of course, your budget.

From simple hand-me-downs to designer rings, they’re all for you to choose from. But have you considered having a wedding ring tattoo? Most of the time, people, especially brides, discard this notion since they do not want to be stereotyped as “rocker chicks” and having their marriage categorized as a “Pamela and Tommy marriage”. This should not be so since a wedding ring tattoo not only symbolizes you and your partner’s individuality, but also your commitment.

Here are three reasons why:

1. You have a freedom of choice on what the style of the ring, in this case, you can allow a tattoo artist to make a design for you. If ever you do, make sure that you describe to him, or her, in perfect detail what you want. This is to help him come up with the design that’s perfect for you and you alone. In the case where you already have a design in mind, make sure that it is drawn up clearly, enough for the tattoo artist to see every detail. Bear in mind that tattoo artists are not mind readers, if you want something done the way you want it, make sure that you are doing your part well. It might also be helpful to you if you browse through catalogs of wedding ring tattoos first before you have one made to help you have an even more beautiful and meaningful design.
2. It symbolizes your love for one another, sure, all wedding rings symbolize this, but with a wedding ring tattoo, it is so much more. Since it can never be taken off, or pawned off, it shows your willingness to wear the ring and be with your partner forever. The fact that having a tattoo done involves pain, it shows just how much you are willing to endure just to prove your love for one another. In the event that you and your partner decide to part ways and want to have the tattoo erased or changed, you both will have to undergo another procedure to erase or change it. A way of showing how much pain you and your partner are going through because of the parting.
3. It is thief-proof, what thief will bother to steal the tattooed ring? It is invaluable to him, but to you and your partner, it means almost the world.

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By Diane Winter