What is a Claddagh ring? And what do they symbolize?

An Irish wedding traditional ring, or a ring handed down typically from a mother to daughter, the Claddagh ring (pronounced “klahda”) symbolizes love, friendship and loyalty. There are three major features of a Claddagh ring; two hands, a heart, and crown. The hands symbolize friendship, the heart means love and the crown represents loyalty.

The ring is an original symbol of the Irish town of Claddagh. Back in the 17th Century, legend has it that a young Irish man named Richard Joyce, was kidnapped while traveling to the West Indian slave plantations. He was taken by pirates who sold him to a goldsmith. The goldsmith made Joyce into a master craftsman over the years, and when King William III negotiated the return of slaves in 1689, Joyce, whose true love was waiting for him back in Ireland, returned home to her. Joyce then presented her with the now famous gold Claddagh ring, to symbolize their eternal love.

When wearing a Claddagh ring, there are a few ways to show your present romantic availability. If worn on the right hand, if you face the heart toward your body, it indicates you are in a relationship. If on the right hand and the heart facing away from your body, it means you are single. If worn on the left hand, with the heart facing inward, it indicates you are married. If on the left hand with heart facing outward, it indicates you are engaged.

Come see Chris Biele at Atlantic City Jewelry and get your loved one a Claddagh ring today! Conveniently located in Bayville and in Tuckerton, NJ!