"The French were bred to die for love/they delight in fighting duels, But I prefer a man who lives/And gives expensive jewels. A kiss on the hand may be quite continental/But diamonds are a girl's best friend..." Can anyone forget the seductive chanting of Marilyn Monroe in the Hollywood classic, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", flaunting the eternal love of women for expensive jewels? Yes, whether you are seeking traditional Irish jewelry or ethnic Celtic jewelry today, the pristine charm of expensive ethnic jewelry has always been hard to resist for any female who loves beauty, femininity and the timeless elegance of traditional jewelry. Make an overpowering style statement with the traditional handcrafted Irish jewelry The Irish Jewelry making dates back to the ancient times. Magnificent metalwork samples have been discovered that were made during the period of 2000 B.C and the 500 A.D., which means when Egyptians were busy building the pyramids the Celts were crafting fine carvings on the metals. So, there is a history behind the Finer Irish jewelry craftsmanship that we see these days. There is rich tradition of jewelry making that have made the Irish Rings, Irish Pendants, Celtic cross Celtic wedding bands some of the most desired jewelry items of the world. From ages the Irish jewelry makers have been using some authentic Celtic symbols or motifs in the jewelry items and these designs have now became synonymous with the Irish jewelry. You can often see these designs in the Irish rings including the Celtic wedding rings and the Celtic cross items and in mens wedding bands. The Claddagh Design - There many stories behind the evolution of the Claddagh design and the most famous of them goes like this. In the ancient fishing village of Claddagh, located near the City of Galway on the Western coast of Ireland, there lived a man called Richard Joyce. One day he was captured by the pirates and they sold them to a rich Turkish goldsmith. In course of time Richard himself became a master craftsman and after he was freed from slavery he came back to his old village. There a young girl, the love of Richard, was waiting for him all these4 years. Richard presented her with a Gold Claddagh ring which is now the most famous gift of Love and Friendship all over the world. This Claddagh ring features a heart in the middle of the ring with a crown on top of it and the heart is hold by two hands. The Claddagh rings are one of the most preferred designs among the Celtic wedding rings. Even the mens wedding bands also feature this famous design to celebrate eternal love and togetherness. The Celtic Knot Work Design - The traditional Celtic knotwork, symbolizes the interconnectedness of life, things without beginnings or ends, and the continuing spiritual journey. This knotwork design, used in Celtic wedding bands and Celtic wedding rings, is inspired by designs found on the pages of Irish illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells and the famous high cross. The Trinity Knot Design - Celtic wedding bands and Celtic cross items feature the Trinity Knot design. The three-sided Trinity Knot is a Celtic knotwork design, that symbolizes the Christian Trinity, and its interwoven lines are often found decorating the pages of illuminated manuscripts such as The Book of Kells and often carved on stone Celtic crosses. Celtic Warrior Shield Design - One of the finest examples of the 8th century metal work - The Chalice was discovered in 1868 by two men digging in a ring fort in Ardagh, Co. Limerick. This celtic warrior shield design, which is inspired by the gold filigree band on the Chalice and the shield decorations are mostly used in Irish rings especially in the mens wedding bands. Have seen the overwhelming popularity of Irish and Celtic wedding bands in recent times and wondering what effected the revival of the traditional Celtic designerwork? Well, tresses of magnificently crafted Celtic jewelry of the 2000 B.C. have been found and you can still see those extraordinary works on Gold and Silver at the National Museum of Ireland. This tradition of Celtic jewelry is still going on and Ireland is one of the few countries of the world where every piece of jewelry is checked and marked with guarantee. These factors of traditional designs like the Celtic KnotWork and the assurance of quality, has made the Celtic jewelry popular throughout the globe. Traditional Irish jewelry makes the best Irish gifts to offer someone you love. While giving these Irish gifts to someone you are actually presenting him or her, a piece of rich cultural heritage of Ireland, as these beautifully crafted Irish jewelry products are designed with authentic Irish motifs including the famous Celtic knotwork design, the Claddagh design, Trinity knot design etc. As for example the Claddagh design, which is the most celebrated Irish motif symbolizing love and friendship, is considered one of the best Irish gifts among couples and friends. Exchanging Irish gifts of Claddagh rings has been a much practiced custom even among the pen pals and distant friends. Explore their pleasures with them as you bring smiles to the faces of your dear ones! |
