Celtic Rings and Celtic Jewelry

There are not many jewellers who carry Claddagh rings in South Africa. There are even fewer South African jewelers who are willing to make custom Celtic wedding rings. Many of the rings available in South Africa are not made of precious metals – but are mass produced from cheap base metal and the gold plated – not good for a wedding ring – if you are buying wedding bands you really want them in gold, silver, palladium or platinum – they will then last a lifetime - and if the rings are well made, will be passed on to the next generation.

Irish Friendship rings

If you would like to see a comprehensive range of Celtic Rings and Celtic bangles made in South Africa you can visit celticjewellery.co.za The claddagh rings and Celtic design rings are available in 9ct gold, 14ct gold and 18ct gold. We also make them in sterling silver. Many of the rings can be made in combinations of the precious metals. A few can also be made using titanium – although we are limited by what can be done in titanium.

Handmade and custom design Celtic Rings and Celtic bangles made by South African goldsmiths. The two rings featured in the picture are mad in 9ct yellow gold with white gold enhancers. The make a great matching wedding set – the woman wedding ring is narrower than the men’s wedding band. We can custom engrave a message on the inside of the rings – which is always a nice touch for any couple who are making their vows to each other. Some lovely ideas for engraving are as follows:

• together for ever
• two hearts beating as one
• wedding dates

Engraving the date of your wedding is always a good idea – especially if you are like me and manage to forget my anniversary date – not nice, but a fact. Men often get into trouble for missing important dates – so this will really help. The motif on the rings is the Cladddegh symbol – the heart, crown and the hands. Running down the side of the ring is a Celtic knot design which symbolises the tying of two peoples hearts together. These rings can be made in any ring size you choose – even very large sizes for men and tiny ring sizes for woman. If you have really small fingers some of the knot work patterning may be lost. “With these hands I thee hold, with heart I thee love and with this crown I do thee honor”.  This is what the symbols represent on the claddagh ring.  When you buy claddagh rings, whether they are for friendship, or for love, you will need to know which way to wear the rings. Friendship, love and honor.

• Worn on the right hand with the point of the heart going toward the fingertips, the person is single and is probably looking for a relationship or love.
• Worn on the right hand and the point of the heart facing the wrist, the person is in a steady relationship, or their heart has been taken by another.
• Worn on the left hand with the point of the heart going towards the fingertips, the person is engaged to be married.
• The claddagh ring worn on the left hand with the heart pointing towards the wrist means that the person is married.

So – get the claddagh ring in the correct position, and the correct finger, so you can let the rest of the world know what you feel and what you are looking for. Claddagh rings in South Africa  carry the same meaning as in Ireland and the rest of the world. Claddagh rings can be custom made – and purchased from Celtic Dreams – a South African Jewellery company who makes Celtic rings and claddegh rings.

Titanium ring with Celtic Knot

Celtic Knot Ring with Amethyst

When choosing a Celtic ring it is a good idea to see if the ring can be sized. Often the knot work is linked all the way around – meaning that if you get the size wrong, or your finger size gets bigger, then the knot work is damaged in the sizing process. A good jeweler will be able to size silver or gold Celtic knot rings a few sizes up without damaging the Celtic ring, but sizing down is another story. A piece will have to be removed – this will affect the Celtic pattern. Many Celtic rings cannot be sized at all – like one made in Titanium and sterling silver – the titanium Celtic ring cannot be sized up or down. Some Background on Celtic Knot Rings and Celtic Cross Pendants. The Celtic knot symbol, is also called the mystic knot, and the endless knot. The more esoteric or spiritual meaning of this symbol refers to beginnings and endings. In looking at these types of beautiful knots, we can’t see a beginning or an end, and so we’re reminded of the ageless nature of our spirit. This interpretation goes back to to our most primal selves when we think about the infinite cycles of birth and rebirth in both the physical and ethereal realms. When sizing a Celtic ring or buying Celtic jewelry or Celtic knots look out for ring sizing problems – Celtic jewelry is widely available and if you search the net you will find plenty of resources.