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Traditional Irish Claddagh Rings
By Lance Thorington

 When walking around Ireland, or anywhere recently, it is common to glimpse the gold band of the traditional Irish Claddagh ring. The hand held heart resting beneath the crown is said to be a symbol of friendship, love and loyalty. A gift passed from friend to friend, between lovers, and through the family. But what are its origins?


Although there are more than one legend of the origin of the Irish Claddagh ring, the one which is usually believed is the story of Richard Joyce and his love. A member of the Joyce clan of Galway, he sailed to the West Indies, but on the way Joyce and his fellow sailors were captured and kept imprisoned as slaves.

Over fourteen years it was Joyce's job to work alongside a goldsmith. During his years of working Joyce supposedly designed the traditional Irish Claddagh ring. He had left his love back in Ireland and she is said to have been waiting for him. Finally, as William III ascended to the thrown, he called for the release of the British prisoners. Joyce was free to return home.

Before Joyce's return to Ireland, his 'owner' offered him wealth, and his daughter in marriage. Joyce said no, opting to return to Ireland and his long awaited love. After waiting for so long she was glad of his return, and married him instantly. It is said he gave her the ring as a symbol of their love. Due to this legend the tradition of the giving of the Irish Claddagh ring to lovers is obvious.

When Ireland was struck with the potato famine, many of the Irish families travelled to America, taking with them the Irish Claddagh ring, which has now become a family heirloom. The ring is now passed down through the female line, or to males to pass to their love.

As the ring is a tradition of the Irish families, it may be a gift between lovers and married couples, which ahs been passed down through the family. It shows a connection to the family, as well as a connection between the two who will join together at the wedding.

In recent times, the Claddagh ring has been used as a wedding band at pagan wedding ceremonies, often called a hand-fasting. The hand-fasting, as with more traditional wedding ceremonies, joins two people together in love and friendship, and so the Claddagh ring has become a popular symbol, rather than a plain gold band.

Lance Thorington is a professional publisher and writes for various web sites. Read more about the Irish Claddagh Ring and its meaning at http://www.irish-claddaghring.com/


3 Reasons to Choose a Titanium Wedding Ring

By Scott Davis

 When it comes to metals used for wedding rings, gold is probably the most popular. The shine of gold typically gets the attention of women. Men on the other hand tend to appreciate the durability of the metal. When you think of titanium you probably don't have images of wedding rings in your head. However, titanium wedding rings are quickly becoming more common as people seek alternatives to gold. When you're shopping for wedding rings and you want a comparable option to gold, you may want to consider titanium.


Durable

Of course you and your partner want your wedding rings to last. Titanium is the strongest metal there is. It is commonly used for airplane parts, submarines, and golf clubs. There is a misconception, however, that rings made of titanium are scratch resistant. Incidental bumps shouldn't leave a scratch. But, if you constantly rub a titanium ring against hard surfaces, there is a good chance that you will see scratches. The good news is that you don't have to live with the scratches. A jeweler can buff your ring to remove minor scratches. As a word of caution, just because your ring is somewhat scratch resistant, you should still take care when working with hard surfaces. With titanium being as strong as it is you might think that it is a heavy metal. The complete opposite is true. It is lightweight in comparison to gold.

Allergy Free

Another upside of titanium is that it does not cause irritation to the skin. This is particularly good news to anyone who is limited to only hypoallergenic jewelry. Gold wedding rings are seldom made of pure gold. Instead, they are mixed with alloy, which is a source of irritation for many people. The alloy in a gold ring can also react to excessive exposure to the sun and salt water and cause the ring to change colors or cause a dark ring to develop on the skin. Titanium is easily mixed with gold or silver, which both may contain alloy, so it is a good idea to ask that your wedding rings are made from pure titanium if your skin is sensitive.

Cost

Buying wedding rings doesn't have to set your wallet back five years or more. Gold and platinum are precious metals and their value fluctuates according to market conditions. Titanium is not a precious metal and is significantly less expensive (all year long) than gold or platinum. A wedding band made of pure gold can easily cost more than $100; the titanium equivalent would cost about $75. Although a basic titanium wedding band is attractive in itself, you can have a jeweler embellish a ring with gold, diamonds, or whatever suits you and still not pay as much as you would with pure gold rings. For example, a 7mm 10K gold band will run about $120. A 77 mm titanium band will cost about $90.

Totally Titanium is a titanium jewelry directory, with information on beautiful titanium wedding rings and titanium engagement rings. Scott Davis is a freelance writer for Totally Titanium (http://www.totallytitanium.com/).
 
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