So you’ve found your life partner, you’ve chosen a day together, and all that’s left to do now is to select the perfect ring. In choosing a Celtic wedding ring, you’ve already made a wise choice. This is the ring you’ll look at many years from now whenever you’re apart. It will serve as a constant reminder that you’re never alone, your partner is always there for you.
Naturally, you want the beauty of the day to be matched by the rings you’ll be wearing for the rest of your lives. It should reflect heritage, culture, and connection. It should be beautiful, inspiring and expressive. Most importantly, it should symbolize everything you as a couple feel for each other.
When it comes to exquisite jewelry design, Celtic designs are unrivalled.
The ancient Celts are famed the world over for their intricate interlacing knot-work and rich use of symbolism throughout their designs. The beauty of the ring is unquestioned, you just need to decide which one to go for…
There are three main choices: the
Celtic wedding ring, the
Claddagh wedding ring, and the
Irish wedding ring.
The Claddagh Wedding Ring
Claddagh wedding rings are the perfect expression of love, friendship and loyalty. This is possibly the most famous of Celtic rings, partly because of it’s use as not only a Celtic wedding ring, but also as an expression of your love. If worn on the right hand with the heart facing away from your own, it means that your heart is yet to be won. If worn on the right hand with the heart facing inwards, it means your heart is already taken. If worn on the left hand facing in, it means your life and heart are bound to another’s forever. For this reason, a Claddagh wedding ring is the perfect ring if the symbolism of love, friendship and loyalty are what you are looking for.
The Celtic Wedding Ring
For those with an eye for detail, where beauty and intricacy of design are of utmost importance, the Celtic wedding ring is the ring of choice. Often incorporating the spiral - the symbol for life, the cycle of life and the natural energy of the universe - or the interlacing knot, the symbol for love without end, the Celtic wedding ring is the choice of the person for whom spirituality and beauty is paramount.
The Irish Wedding Ring
Famed for it’s poetic and colorful turn of phrase, a Gaelic inscription is a beautiful way to adorn your ring. What better way to express your feelings than words etched in an ancient language as rich in culture as your depth of feeling. Irish wedding rings are often adorned with elegant Celtic symbols, combining words and symbolism for those who wish to convey their devotion both eloquently and illustratively.
Choosing your Metal
You are now faced with three choices for the metal your ring is made from: white gold, yellow gold, and platinum. The most popular choice is usually white or yellow gold, both of which are available in 14 or 18 karat. The difference between these two are as follows:
- 14 karat - an alloy consisting of 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% other metals such as silver and copper
- 18 karat – an alloy consisting of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals
18 karat gold is slightly softer and more easily scratched than 14 karat, but is richer in color and luster. However, neither of these will tarnish.
Platinum is the most precious metal, much stronger than gold but still not quite strong enough in it’s pure form to make a ring, so other metals from the same family are added to make it strong and durable enough. Much rarer as a metal, it is a more expensive option, but it is a beautiful white metal with a superior polish which will last a lifetime.
Final decision
So, now that you’ve chosen the type of ring and the metal you want it in, you have to make a decision on the final design. As a general guideline, wide bands can make short hands appear shorter, and narrower bands can help to over-emphasize finger length, helping to give an appearance of elegance. For those with larger hands, long fingers can wear bold rings very well, whereas delicate rings can look small and lost. Choose according to proportion, but never sacrifice the design you want for the size of the ring. This is a ring you’ll wear for the rest of your life, make sure the design appeals to you.
©Steven Forsyth & Celtic Rings Ltd. 2006
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