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Claddagh ring

What Is a Claddagh Ring and What Does It Mean?

A Claddagh ring’s hands, heart and crown commonly represent friendship, love and loyalty. Its wearing custom is familiar, but not a rule.

By WatchRanker Team 3 min read
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A Claddagh ring is an Irish ring associated with Galway. Its design shows two hands holding a crowned heart: the hands commonly symbolize friendship, the heart love, and the crown loyalty. A familiar wearing custom uses which way the heart faces to suggest whether the wearer’s heart is open or joined with someone, but it is a tradition—not a rule—and many people wear the ring for its heritage or appearance without signaling relationship status.

What does a Claddagh ring look like?

The traditional design has two hands clasping a heart, with a crown above it. It is associated with the Claddagh, a historic fishing village beside Galway city in Ireland. The motif is also related to the wider European fede-ring tradition, which features clasped hands and associations with commitment; the Claddagh is a variation of that design rather than a motif that must be attributed to one documented inventor. Galway City Museum’s educational resource describes this context.

What does a Claddagh ring mean?

The best-known interpretation assigns a meaning to each part: friendship to the hands, love to the heart, and loyalty to the crown. Ireland.com reproduces the wording on a plaque outside the home associated with the original Claddagh ring in Galway:

“The Hands are for Friendship
The Heart is for Love,
And Loyalty is Shown
With the Crown up above”

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#1 Best Overall
PROSILVER Irish Claddagh Rings, 925 Sterling Silver Promise Ring, Size 8
  • Timeless Style for Permanent Love: Crafted with 925 Sterling Silver, Claddagh rings for women are no tarnish, hypoallergenic, non-irritating to skins.
  • Claddagh Ring Design: The Ring Features Irish Claddagh Design That Symbolizes Three Traditional Values. Promise of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, Feminine and Beautiful, It Will Be an Absolutely Everyday Staple to Your Wardrobe.
  • Promise Ring Size: #4-#12 Size, Fits Perfectly, Pretty and Amazing Details, Beautifully Crafted with a Great Shine, Won't Turn Fingers Green, Rounded and Clean Edge, Scratch-Resistant Makes It Comfortable to Wear.
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These meanings make the ring a popular gift and a personal or cultural emblem. Some people also choose it as an engagement or wedding ring. Its symbolism can be meaningful without the wearer intending it as a public statement about their relationship.

How do you wear a Claddagh ring?

A familiar custom places the ring on a ring finger and reads the heart’s direction as a sign. In this convention, the point of the heart faces outward, toward the fingertip, when the wearer’s heart is open or they are unattached; it faces inward, toward the wearer, when their heart is joined with someone. Descriptions of the status meanings can vary, and there is no universal rule or obligation to follow this custom. Ireland.com’s guide and Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold wearing guide describe the convention.

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LYTTMAB Sterling S925 Silver Claddagh Rings For Women Celtic Irish Jewelry
  • Sterling S925 Silver: made of 92.5% Pure Silver. Premium quality, Hypoallergenic, Non-irritating to Skins.
  • Claddagh Ring: The Ring Features Irish Claddagh Design That Symbolizes Three Traditional Values. Promise of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, Feminine and Beautiful, It Will Be an Absolutely Everyday Staple to Your Wardrobe.
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Where did the Claddagh ring come from?

The oldest known Galway example

Galway City Museum identifies a gold Claddagh ring made by local goldsmith Richard Joyce around 1700 as the oldest known Claddagh ring made in Galway. The ring bears Joyce’s initials and other initials believed to refer to a bride and groom. The museum says it bought the ring in 2020. These are claims about a surviving object; they do not establish every detail of how the design originated. The museum’s resource provides the object’s dating and collection details.

Joyce and other origin stories

A popular account says Joyce was captured while travelling, learned goldsmithing during captivity in North Africa, and returned to Galway, where he made the ring. This is best treated as a traditional account rather than a fully proven biography. Another legend credits Margaret Joyce, a charitable widow, and an eagle that dropped a ring into her lap. These competing stories are folklore, not equally established historical explanations. RTÉ’s history account and Ireland.com recount the traditions.

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Rank #3
Adjustable Claddagh Ring for Women, Gold
  • Claddagh Rings: The Ring Features Irish Claddagh Design That Symbolizes Promise of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, The silver/gold/rose gold band elegantly folds into two hands holding a heart. A crown for loyalty sits above the heart
  • Adjustable Rings: Features a convenient adjustable design to find your fit within a range of sizes (6-10). Meticulously crafted with smooth, rounded edges for exceptional comfort. Resists scratches and tarnish to maintain its beautiful appearance and won't cause skin discoloration
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  • Gift Ready Packaging: The ring is packed in a beautiful gift box, which makes it a thoughtful gift for yourself, your wife, daughter, sisters, friends, mother, grandma on Wedding, Anniversary, Dating, Banquet, Thanksgiving Day, Valentine's Day, Birthday, Engagement, Holiday, Christmas etc
  • Premium Quality Materials: Crafted with high-quality plating options including silver, rose gold, and gold finishes that provide long-lasting shine and durability for everyday wear
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What should you know if you are choosing one?

Claddagh rings are made in different materials and styles. If you are selecting one, consider the material, fit, whether you prefer a traditional or more embellished design, and whether Galway provenance matters to you. A Galway maker may be relevant if provenance is a priority, but historical claims made by a business should be understood as that maker’s account. No particular seller, hallmark, quality level, or current price is established here, so check those details for the specific ring before buying.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
LYTTMAB Sterling S925 Silver Claddagh Rings For Women Celtic Irish Jewelry
LYTTMAB Sterling S925 Silver Claddagh Rings For Women Celtic Irish Jewelry
Luxury Packaging: come with ring box, ready as a gift.
$29.99
Bestseller No. 4
14k Yellow Gold High Polish Claddagh Ring (size 6)
14k Yellow Gold High Polish Claddagh Ring (size 6)
Crafted of 14 karat yellow gold; Features a high polish finish; Available in size 5 - 9
$290.00
Bestseller No. 5
Ross-Simons 18kt Gold Over Sterling Claddagh Ring. Size 6
Ross-Simons 18kt Gold Over Sterling Claddagh Ring. Size 6
18kt yellow gold over sterling silver, ring for women.; 1/2" wide.; Luxury 18kt yellow gold over sterling silver ring.
$65.00
Best Value
Ross-Simons 18kt Gold Over Sterling Claddagh Ring. Size 6
  • 18kt yellow gold over sterling silver, ring for women.
  • 1/2" wide.
  • Luxury 18kt yellow gold over sterling silver ring.
  • Textured and polished 18kt yellow gold over sterling silver.
  • Includes jewelry presentation box.
Rank #4
14k Yellow Gold High Polish Claddagh Ring (size 6)
  • Crafted of 14 karat yellow gold
  • Features a high polish finish
  • Available in size 5 - 9

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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