The Claddagh ring is characterized by the symbology that it implies: two hands surrounding a heart, integrated with a crown that represents true love or eternal friendship. The heart symbolizes love; hands, friendship; and the crown, loyalty and fidelity.
Also, according to an ancient legend linked to the creation of the Claddagh ring, it has its origin in an old fishing village in Claddagh, just outside the city of Galway, on the west coast of Ireland.
In this sense, the story tells that a young man named Richard Joyce, an inhabitant of Galway, was captured and sold to an Algerian goldsmith, who taught his art. On one occasion, a Spanish ship arrived that was forced to deviate from its route due to a storm, and the locals gave it shelter; and so they learned about how the people of Ireland lived dominated by slavery; among these, the young Joyce. However, thanks to the arrival of the ship’s crew, Richard’s case reached the ears of the Queen of Spain, María de Austria, and she considered the young man’s case.
In this way, his captor was offered a large sum of money, which he flatly rejected, because he appreciated the boy as a true son. The goldsmith tried to convince him to stay, offering her his only daughter in marriage and half of her wealth. But the boy left in search of his family in Ireland and his fiancée, who had waited for him for seven years.
Once together with his endearing family, Richard wanted to celebrate his arrival in gratitude to those who had helped free him; he decided to create a ring and named it «the Claddagh Ring», presenting it to his dear girlfriend as a symbol of his eternal love; then they sealed his commitment to marriage. This is how the young man began to exploit his skills as a goldsmith and opened a jewelry store in Galway. He began to make rings in gold, silver and bronze; for lovers and commitment. Thereafter the Claddagh ring, acquired a symbolic importance representing love, commitment, friendship, loyalty, affection and fidelity.
On the other hand, the ring has a special meaning depending on where it is placed: wearing it on the right hand, with the crown facing out, means that the person is looking for true love; when the crown points to her hand, she expresses that she has found love. In the left hand, with the crown inward symbolizes commitment; with the crown facing out, whoever wears it is married. Currently, the rings made by Joyce are kept in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin and in the «Victoria and Albert Museum» in London; and they have her initials “RJ” engraved on them. The symbology of the Claddagh Ring has remained to this day, it has witnessed loyalty and fidelity in past times, to seal bonds of love. It is ideal to represent what we love most!