Choosing The Perfect Irish Wedding Ring

Whether you are 100% Irish or only a smidgen, deciding to wear an Irish wedding ring or band can be a beautiful way to show your commitment to your spouse and pride in your Irish heritage. 

The Claddagh Ring is definitely the most well-known symbol of love in Ireland. The rings motif has been explained as "Let Love and Friendship reign," the hands symbolizing friendship, the heart love, and the crown loyalty. As a wedding band, the ring is typically worn on the ring finger of the left hand with the point of the heart worn inward, showing that the heart is happily taken.

The Celtic Wedding Ring may contain various Celtic designs, but the most often used is the Celtic love knot (a pattern using continuous unending lines). The design represents eternity, unity, and fidelity. Animals are often used in Celtic design as well, the heron being the most common in wedding bands, since they mate for life.

 

     

The Emerald Ring has been chosen by many Irish American couples instead of the typical diamond ring or band. Emeralds have been said to quicken the intelligence as well as the heart. Wearers of the emerald ring display proudly that they are decendents of the "Emerald Isle." Emeralds come in all shades of green, the deepest being the most valuable and sought after. The emerald is considered a magical stone by forest spririts and fairies and a bride wearing the green stone must be careful not to be carried off by such spirits.

 

    

The Gimmal Ring is an Irish puzzle ring, typically in three parts. Tradition has it that one part was to be kept by the girl, one by the suiter, and one by the priest and then were to be joined together at the ceremony and worn by the bride as her wedding ring. Most gimmal rings contain the image of two hands covering a heart or multiple hearts. This ring would be a more unusual choice, but with similar connotations to the claddagh.

 

NOTE: Having a gold ring is one of the most important things, according to Irish tradition. It has been believed that unless the wedding ring be golden, the marriage lacks validity.

 

Happy ring shopping!