18kt yellow gold tradional Irish Claddagh ring with gem quality round emerald being approximately 3mm.  This ring has substantial gold weight at 12 grams of gold!  

J. R. Dunn Jewelers specially designed and handcrafted Claddagh ring, created by our award-winning studio, and inspired by the Irish heritage of our own Jim Dunn.  With an enhanced shank, more substantial gold weight, gem quality emerald or diamond, along with a beautiful finish makes this Celtic tradition a treasure to see.

Traditional folklore:
Two hands to represent friendship, the crown to signify loyalty, lasting fidelity, and the sign of the heart to symbolize your eternal love for each other.  This ring can be used as a friendship ring, engagement ring, wedding band or promise ring.

Claddagh was once a fiercely independent village outside Galway City in the west of Ireland. Since 1934 it has just been a suburb of the city. However, one tradition lives on, The Claddagh Ring.  Legend has it the town developed the ring to be worn by sailors of Claddagh. When these sailors would run into other fishermen in their waters, they would check for the sigil, and if they did not find it, they would kill them.

The original Claddagh ring is generally attributed to a Richard Joyce, of Galway. Joyce departed from Claddagh, on a ship enroute to the plantations of the West Indies. That week he was to be married, but his ship was captured by Mediterranean Algerian pirates and the crew were sold as a slaves; Richard Joyce was sold to a Moorish goldsmith who trained him in his craft. He soon became a master and hand crafted a ring for the woman at home he could not forget.  In 1689 he was released after William III came to the throne of England and concluded an agreement whereby all his subjects who where held in captivity by the Moors were to be allowed return to their homes. The Moorish goldsmith offered Robert Joyce his only daughter in marriage and half his wealth if he would remain in Algiers. He declined and returned to Claddagh to find that the woman of his heart had never married. He gave her the ring and they were married, and he set up a goldsmith shop in the town of Claddagh.  The earliest Claddagh rings to be traced bear his mark and the initial letters of his name, RJ (Richard Joyce).

Either on the right hand with the heart turned outwards showing that the wearer is "fancy free" or with the heart turned inwards to denote that he or she is "spoken for". The pride of place is on the left hand, with the heart turned in, indicating that the wearer is happily married and the love and friendship will last forever, the two never separated.