Long before social media updates, people wore the famous Claddagh design to express relationship status. The Claddagh ring is widely accepted as originating from the quiet little 17th Century fishing village of Claddagh, just outside of Galway, Ireland. . Reply. The Claddagh symbols are a really nice sentiment representing love, loyalty and friendship and many of our customer have no connection to Ireland. Historically, the Claddagh ring has been used as a token of love and a way for the wearer to display their relationship status. Yes, there is definitely a strong tradition of mothers gifting Claddagh rings to their daughters. ", finger with thwart facing toward the body. Yes, generally people who follow/are aware of the tradition will turn their ring around after a breakup. Facing in- married. Whatever way you wear your Claddagh ring, it’s a beautiful gesture to wear this ring for him. Although they all mean the same thing, a different type can show you know what they are into if you are planning to give it to someone else. Thanks for reading, Best wishes for the future, Lulu. To wear a Claddagh ring on the left hand with the crown turned inward, towards you on the left hand indicates marriage. It might cost a bit, but well worth it. Which direction should a widow's Claddagh ring face when worn? By learning how to wear the Claddagh ring correctly, you can avoid giving off mixed signals and any unwarranted stares from people who understand the meaning of the ring. This article has been viewed 744,064 times. How to wear the Claddagh Ring when you’re in a Relationship When worn on the right hand, the heart’s point toward the wrist it symbolizes that the wearer is in a relationship. All Rights Reserved. Noticing Joyce’s talent, he taught him the trade. I had a ring made with a moldavite gemstone inside the heart of my ring after he passed. Home/Fashion infographics/ How to wear a Claddagh ring. Learn which position to wear your Claddagh ring in. The circle of life, if you will. If the wearer is committed to someone or in a relationship, they can wear the ring on the right hand with the heart pointing inwards. Right, then you can wear your Claddagh ring on the ring finger of your right hand. Claddagh rings are often received as a gift from a close friend, a boyfriends or girlfriends, a fiancé, or a spouse, which means the ring likely represents an important person and the shared relationship. Traditionally, to show that your heart is taken you would wear the Claddagh Ring with the heart facing towards you (crown away from you). OK, so, you’re engaged to be married – fair play to you! We’d love to hear! The Claddagh Ring is not, however, only a token of one’s love or loyalty. Sincerely, Angela, Hi Angela, thanks so much for sharing and our sincere condolences for your loss. That means that you are not currently in a relationship but you are open to meet someone. Yes, there’s a crazy number of ways of wearing the Claddagh ring, but that’s what gives it the appeal for a lot of people. You can also use a claddagh ring as an engagement ring by wearing it on your left hand, with the heart pointing toward the end of your finger. Wear the ring on your right hand, but with the heart facing toward your body. Emer, thanks so much for sharing your story! Made in Ireland, ships from Colorado, USA. However, to complicate things further many people will simply wear their Claddagh ring whatever way it goes on or pay no heed to the tradition at all So whether it was a big decision for him to turn his ring around, very much depends on the individual. However, many people are not aware of this tradition so, of course, we always take it with a grain of salt In relation to the finger a wedding ring is worn, again there are no firm rules on this and varies between countries and culture. It is normally worn as a way of conveying the wearer’s relationship status. He has Irish heritage and I do not want to disrespect the traditions or anything regarding him. The word Claddagh comes from an Irish term meaning “flat stony shore’. They were originally used to convey one’s relationship status: 1. How to wear a Claddagh Ring. So I personally wouldn’t be overly concerned about disrespecting the tradition. I will have to check this out . Here are some examples of how wearing the Claddagh ring can represent your relationship: If you’re single (and looking for love), wear it on your right hand, facing outward 2. I was recently given a Claddagh ring by a niece who is newly united with our family.. She had bought it for herself while on a trip to Scotland . Claddagh rings are commonly given as an engagement or wedding ring and are sometimes given as a friendship ring. Explore Eileen’s Irish Ring Collection today or get in touch to begin creating your dream Bespoke Claddagh Ring. Probably not, but you might want to ask her/tell her that you are planing to wear it that way so there is no confusion or misunderstanding. Interestingly, that’s a question we often get asked. If I'm single or dating, do I have to wear a claddagh ring? Do you wear an Irish Claddagh Ring? Thank you. The most plausible being that of the Joyce family. The ring's history can be traced back as far as over 300 years. But remember the meaning of the Claddagh is … The Claddagh Ring has been the traditional wedding ring in Irish culture since the 17th century. There are four ways of wearing a Claddagh ring and they all mean different things, take note. To wear a Claddagh ring on the left hand with the crown turned outwards, away from you indicates a romantic engagement. To wear a Claddagh ring on the right hand with the crown turned inward, towards you symbolizes that the wearer is being courted in a relationship. Wear your Claddagh on your right hand with the heart pointing out to show the world the your are not in a relationship. Right hand with the point of the heart facing towards the hand: The heart is turned in towards the wearer meaning their heart is taken and they are in a relationship. Claddagh rings are often offered as a symbol of commitment to love, loyalty and friendship. The pieces themselves a(...), The anam cara pendant is perfect. I would appreciate any insight. In your case, I might suggest wearing on your left hand with the base of the heart pointing towards the hand. I felt like I should wear it facing my heart to represent my never ending love for him yet if we were legally married I would be a widow? How to wear the Claddagh Ring when you’re in a Relationship. To wear a… Jan 18, 2015 - Experience every stage of love, loyalty and friendship. You should wear your Claddagh ring on your wedding ring finger on your left hand with the heart pointing out. If you wear your Claddagh ring on your right hand with the point of the heart facing toward the wearer, it means your heart is taken and you're in a relationship. 1. I now know which finger to wear my, "The lovely girl I was married to for 50 years ago and I purchased a Claddagh ring to wear on my right hand ring, "My husband and I are Irish and we used my Claddagh ring for my wedding. If you know what to look for, you can learn a lot about someone's personal life just by looking at the Claddagh ring … I know for a promise ring she should wear it on her left ring finger, but what direction? This indicates that you are in a relationship but not yet married. Made sense to me, as it covered all stages of our life. Whatever history you believe to be true, the fact remains that the Claddagh is the ultimate symbol of love and unity. Various interpretations of the original design allow men and women. Any recommendations for how to wear if one is a committed bachelor/spinster – that is, if one is not in a relationship, and also not open to being in one? To learn how to wear a claddagh ring to signify something other than your relationship status, scroll down! , Hi my partner got me a claddagh ring made 19 years ago as an engagement ring got engaged Christmas eve 2001 I didn’t know and I won’t change it for the world people still ask me where I got it after 19years as there is no other one like it I still feel so lucky to have him and such a beautiful ring. I was always told that your mother had to give you the ring not a man. That’s really nice to hear Rachel! : You wear it on the right hand with the point of the heart outwards and the crown inwards if you are single and maybe open to a relationship. Hi Norma, That’s a really good question. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. So, any of the above apart from 2 will work perfectly! By learning how to wear the Claddagh ring correctly, you can avoid giving off mixed signals and any unwarranted stares from people who understand the meaning of the ring. According to his lover Patricia Kennealy, they exchanged claddagh rings in a Celtic-inspired pagan commitment ceremony, with her wearing a … via emeraldislejewelry.com. Hi Courtney, it’s lovely to hear you have a family connection to Ireland. How to wear a Claddagh ring. Wear the ring to remember someone special. Sharing Elizabeth be worn on the left hand with the point of the heart facing is. 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