Claddagh rings

The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring named after Claddagh, a small fishing village beside Galway city. It features a heart held by two hands and topped with a crown, an iconic motif rich with meaning. This design did not emerge from nowhere – it evolved from European ring traditions. Similar love rings known as fede (from Italian mani in fede, meaning “hands in faith”) with clasped hands were worn since Roman times. By the 16th century, some fede rings incorporated a heart, but the Claddagh variation added a crown in the late 17th century. According to historians, the crowned-heart motif as we know it was introduced around the 1690s by a Galway goldsmith named Richard Joyce. Joyce belonged to one of the “Fourteen Tribes” merchant families of Galway, and his name is most closely associated with the ring’s origin.

Legend of Richard Joyce:

Joyce’s life is steeped in lore. The prevailing story (first recorded in an 1820 history by James Hardiman) recounts that in 1675, while Joyce was en route to the West Indies, his ship was captured by Algerian pirates. The 15-year-old Joyce was sold into slavery in Algiers to a Moorish goldsmith. Over ~14 years, Joyce learned the craft of jewellery-making, becoming “ingenious” in soldering and casting. In 1689, King William III secured the release of Britons enslaved in North Africa, including Joyce. Joyce’s master, impressed by his skill, reportedly offered half his wealth and his daughter’s hand if Joyce would stay, but Joyce chose to return home. Back in Galway, he set up as a goldsmith and, as romantics like to tell it, forged the first Claddagh ring for his sweetheart who awaited his return. Whether he truly crafted the ring for a long-lost love or simply as a new product, records show he did marry (fathering three daughters) and worked as a respected jeweller until his death circa 1737.

Earliest claddagh rings:

Several surviving rings from around 1700 are attributed to Joyce’s workshop, confirming him as a pioneer of the design. Notably, the oldest known Claddagh ring (dated *c.*1700) was identified by Joyce’s maker’s mark “RI” (for Richard Ioyce) stamped inside. This very ring surfaced in a private collection (belonging to Garech Browne) and was acquired by Galway City Museum in 2020.

The piece fetched over £8,000 at auction, reflecting its significance. Interestingly, its heart motif is slightly uneven and less defined than later examples – a “wonky” heart, testifying to early handcrafting quirks. The inner band bears two sets of initials (“MRC” and “LcM”), which may indicate the original wearer(s). As Galway Museum’s curator notes, Claddagh rings often passed through generations of women, so these initials might represent a mother and daughter rather than a married couple. This heirloom aspect makes tracing the ring’s first owner challenging.

After Joyce introduced the crowned-heart design, other Galway goldsmiths and jewellers around Ireland began making Claddagh rings through the 18th and 19th centuries. One example is a gold Claddagh (inscribed “JMM.A”) made by Andrew Robinson of Galway between 1750-1800, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. By the Victorian era, the ring’s popularity had spread beyond Galway. Jewelers in cities like Dublin and Waterford were crafting Claddaghs, sometimes as matching wedding bands. (The National Museum of Ireland holds a pair of gold Claddagh rings made in 1846, likely used as wedding rings.) Thus, what began as a local Galway tradition grew into a beloved Irish jewellery style by the 19th century.

Symbolism of the heart, hands and crown

Every element of the Claddagh’s design carries deliberate symbolism. An old verse displayed outside Thomas Dillon’s original shop in Galway succinctly explains it: “The Hands are for Friendship, / The Heart is for Love, / And Loyalty is shown / With the Crown up above”. In other words, the two hands represent friendship and support; the heart signifies love; and the crown stands for loyalty (or fidelity). This “trilogy” of symbols – friendship, love and loyalty – is the essence of the Claddagh ring. The combination is potent, reflecting the values that form the foundation of strong relationships. It’s no surprise that the Claddagh motif has endured as a timeless emblem of devotion.

Notably, the crowned heart clasped by hands also echoes symbols in European art and jewellery. Claddagh rings belong to the broader family of fede rings, which traditionally featured just two clasped hands as a sign of trust or betrothal. The addition of a heart in these rings during the Renaissance added an explicit love symbol, and Joyce’s contribution was to add the crown on top. Some suggest this was a tribute to King William III for securing Joyce’s freedom, though the crown could just as well symbolise enduring loyalty. In any case, the heart-hands-crown design was unique to Joyce’s Galway rings and quickly became associated with Irish identity and marriage. (Interestingly, in the 19th century a version without the crown emerged, later dubbed the “Fenian Claddagh” or Dublin Claddagh ring. It was favoured by those who disliked monarchist symbolism, but it never rivalled the popularity of the crowned design. In fact, some argue the crown – an Irish addition – is ironically “the most Irish part” of the Claddagh iconography!)

To sum up, the hands, heart and crown together encapsulate a marriage of values: friendship holding love and loyalty aloft. Whether given as a token of affection, worn as a wedding band, or passed from mother to daughter, a true Claddagh always carries this message of love, loyalty and friendship in its form.

Cultural traditions and how to wear a Claddagh ring

From its beginnings in the Claddagh village community, the ring accrued unique traditions in how it is worn and gifted. Historically, Claddagh rings were family heirlooms, especially among the fisherfolk of Claddagh. It was common for a mother to give her Claddagh ring to her eldest daughter when she married, to keep the ring in the female line of the family. One 19th-century observer noted that in the Claddagh, the wedding ring was an heirloom regularly “transferred from the mother to the daughter who is first married, and so handed down as [an] heirloom” in the family. This practice contributed to the ring’s mystique as a treasured symbol of maternal blessing and continuity. It also means genuine old rings often show generations of wear, and sometimes have more than one set of initials engraved (as seen in the Joyce ring).

Beyond inheritance customs, the position and orientation of a Claddagh ring on the hand is laden with meaning. A tradition going back at least a century dictates that how you wear the ring can signal your romantic status:

• Single: Wear it on your right hand with the heart facing outward (i.e. the point of the heart aimed away from you). An outward-facing heart signifies your heart is open and looking for love.
• In a Relationship: Wear it on your right hand with the heart facing inward (toward your own heart). This indicates your heart is taken – you are in a committed relationship. (As one wearer puts it, “I wear mine on my right hand with the point of the heart toward my wrist” to show I’m spoken for.)
• Engaged: Wear it on your left hand (traditionally the ring finger) with the heart facing outward. This suggests you have pledged your heart to someone (betrothed) but are not yet married. It’s a signal of engagement – your heart is given but the crown is not turned inwards until the vows are made.
• Married: Wear it on your left hand with the heart facing inward. With the ring on the usual wedding ring finger and the heart turned inward to clasp your own heart, it shows you are married and your heart is firmly wed. In this position, the crown is facing outward to the world, which some interpret as “loyalty reigning” in the union.

These customs are widely taught and followed in Ireland and among Claddagh enthusiasts, though not everyone adheres to them strictly. The general concept is that “heart turned inward = heart taken, heart turned outward = heart free”.

Culturally, the Claddagh ring has served as a wedding ring, engagement ring, friendship ring, and souvenir. In the Claddagh village of old, it was primarily used as a wedding band among the fishing families. Over time it also became popular as a friendship ring or token of regard. Even those without plans for marriage might wear one as a symbol of enduring friendship or as a promise ring. In the 20th century, it became common for sweethearts or friends to exchange Claddaghs as a sign of loyalty. The ring’s design, rich with meaning yet modest in form, made it suitable for daily wear, which helped its spread.

Within Ireland, the Claddagh ring never truly went out of fashion, but it has seen periodic revivals. There is currently a resurgence in popularity among younger generations – jewellers report that Irish people in their 20s and 30s are enthusiastically buying Claddagh rings again, not only as inherited pieces but as trendy personal jewellery (“the classic Claddagh has become cool”, as one article quips). Irish designers have also created modern takes on the ring, from diamond-set versions to stylised necklaces, showing the motif’s adaptability. Yet even in its most contemporary incarnations, the ring carries its traditional message. As one jeweller notes, “There are no rules as to where your Claddagh ring comes from – whether it is a gift or something you buy yourself, the ring still has the same significance and meaning.”In essence, it’s the symbolism and how you wear it that imbue a Claddagh ring with its story.

The Claddagh ring in the Irish diaspora and worldwide

Beyond Ireland’s shores, the Claddagh ring has become one of the most recognisable symbols of Irish heritage – on par with the shamrock or the Irish harp. As Ireland experienced waves of emigration, particularly during the 19th-century Great Famine and subsequent decades, millions of Irish carried their culture abroad. Irish diaspora communities in Britain, North America, Australia and elsewhere kept traditions alive, and the Claddagh ring was among them. Many emigrants took their treasured rings with them or sent them back home as gifts. Some who needed money pawned their gold Claddaghs to pay for passage to new lands, while others made sure to carry the ring as a tangible piece of “home” in a foreign country. By the late 1800s, Claddagh rings were known in cities like New York and Boston through Irish immigrants, and in London, Liverpool and Glasgow via the Irish in Britain.

To this day, Irish-Americans and Irish-British families often use Claddagh rings to celebrate their roots. It is not uncommon for an Irish-American bride and groom to exchange Claddagh rings at their wedding, or for a parent to give a Claddagh to a child as a coming-of-age keepsake. In the United States, the ring gained broader popularity in the 20th century as soldiers of Irish descent wore them in the World Wars, and later as Irish culture became mainstream. Hollywood even played a part – icons like Walt Disney and Grace Kelly owned Claddagh rings, and the ring has cameoed in films and TV whenever an Irish touch is needed. The symbolism of love, loyalty, friendship resonates universally, so the ring’s appeal has widened beyond ethnic Irish circles. Many people with no Irish background wear the Claddagh simply because they appreciate its meaning or aesthetic.

Identifying and evaluating antique vs modern Claddagh rings

Many people are quite happy with a modern Claddagh ring and not too bothered about tracking down an original antique. This is just a matter of personal preference – there certainly isn’t anything wrong with modern day Claddagh rings! But if you’re seeking an original ring, read on.

Antique Claddagh rings (18th-19th century examples) are highly sought after by collectors and those who value their historical charm. But how can one tell an old heirloom ring from a modern reproduction? Here are some key points to consider when identifying and evaluating a Claddagh ring:

• Maker’s Marks and Hallmarks: Check the inside of the band for any inscriptions or stamps. Early Claddaghs often bear a maker’s mark. For example, rings made by Richard Joyce around 1700 are stamped with “RI” inside. Later 19th-century rings might have initials or a trademark from firms like Dillon. Official hallmarks (assay marks for metal purity and origin) are crucial for dating and authenticity. Ireland has used hallmarking since the 1700s – typically a crowned harp or Hibernia symbol plus a date letter on gold and silver. An authentic Irish-made Claddagh ring in precious metal should have a hallmark from the Dublin Assay Office (especially post-18th century pieces). For instance, modern Galway-made rings are stamped with the Irish hallmark at Dublin Castle. Absence of any hallmark on a gold/silver ring could indicate either a very early piece (pre-standard hallmark use), a piece that wasn’t assayed (unusual for something like a wedding ring), or a non-Irish/modern replica that didn’t go through official assay. Thus, hallmarks can help distinguish a genuine antique made in Ireland.
• Materials and quality: Traditionally, Claddagh rings were made in yellow gold (often high-carat) or in silver. Wealthier families in the 18th-19th centuries favored 18k gold for wedding rings, while later Victorian examples appear in 9k or 14k gold as well. Silver Claddagh rings also existed, sometimes as cheaper love tokens or worn by those who couldn’t afford gold. An antique gold Claddagh will typically be solid gold of a stated carat (as marked by the hallmark). Be wary of rings that are merely gold-plated or made of brass – many 20th-century souvenir rings were costume jewellery. Genuine antique rings feel substantial for their size. The oldest known ring (Joyce’s) is 90+% gold (roughly 22k), giving it a rich colour and heft. Modern reproductions might use lower-karat gold or even stainless steel; the difference in colour and weight is noticeable to an experienced eye. Also, look at the inside band – antique rings often show smooth wear from decades (or centuries) of use, whereas newly made ones will have crisp edges or machining marks.
• Design details: Examine the style of the crown, heart and hands. Antique Claddagh rings were hand-crafted, so they tend to have unique, sometimes asymmetrical details. The heart may not be a perfect shape (e.g. the 1700 Joyce ring’s heart is a bit lopsided, see photo above), and the crown might be relatively flat or naively formed compared to modern versions. The hands on very old rings are usually cuffed sleeves with subtle fingers – look for engraving of knuckles or cuffs that indicate hand-work. Later 19th-century Claddaghs (especially those produced in Dublin or by companies) became more uniform as patterns were replicated, but they still were individually finished, so no two are exactly alike. Modern mass-produced Claddagh rings (late 20th century onwards) often have a very symmetric, machine-perfect appearance – perfectly identical hands, a very centred heart, and factory-polished surfaces. If a ring looks too perfectly manufactured and lacks any maker’s mark or hallmark, it’s likely a modern reproduction. That said, some high-quality modern artisanal Claddaghs (from reputable Irish jewellers) can be quite detailed; in those cases, hallmark and context (did it come from a known shop?) are more telling than design precision.
• Inscriptions: Personal inscriptions can be a hint to age. Many antique Claddaghs, being heirlooms or wedding rings, have initials or dates engraved inside. Such inscriptions, especially in old-fashioned fonts or abbreviations, often point to an older origin (and add to the ring’s story). A modern copy usually won’t have any inscription beyond perhaps a carat stamp. Conversely, a ring with “ORIGINAL” stamped inside is a special case – Thomas Dillon’s of Galway, the oldest Claddagh jewellers (est. 1750), have since the 20th century stamped the word “Original” on their rings. So a “T.Dillon” or “Original” stamp indicates a ring made by that historic Galway shop – a sign of authenticity (though possibly 20th century rather than antique). Collectors also prize Dillon rings for their pedigree.
• Craftsmanship and wear: Authentic antique pieces typically show hand-cut or cast details and the mellow wear of age. The surfaces may be slightly dished from years of polishing by the last owner’s skin. Fine details might be softened (for instance, crowns on very old rings often have their points worn down). Tool marks or irregularities under a loupe can signal handcrafting. Modern copies made by casting from a mold might actually look too clean on the surface but have rougher, grainy detail in recessed areas (a sign of lost-wax casting). Also, check if the ring has any repair seams – an antique heirloom might have been resized or fixed at some point in its long life. A uniform, untouched shank is more common in new rings.
• Source and documentation: Provenance can greatly aid evaluation. If the ring comes with a story (e.g. “great-grandma brought this from Ireland in 1900”), that adds credibility – though such stories aren’t verifiable, they often accompany genuine heirlooms. Museum or auction catalogues have identified some known specimens (like the Joyce ring auctioned at Sotheby’s). If you are purchasing, a trusted antique jewellery dealer or appraisal can help confirm age. Reputable dealers will usually identify a ring’s hallmarks and provide an approximate date. For instance, one might see a listing like “c.1880 Claddagh ring, 18ct gold, maker’s mark T.D., hallmarked in Dublin“, which indicates a late 19th-century piece made by Dillon in Galway, assayed in Dublin – all signs of an authentic antique.

In evaluating value, antique Claddagh rings tend to be valued based on age, metal, condition, and maker. Early 18th-century ones (especially with Joyce’s mark) are exceedingly rare and considered museum pieces or “national treasures”. Victorian-era Claddaghs are more obtainable; their value will depend on gold content and any historical significance.