Claddagh rings originated in Ireland during the reign of William and Mary in the 17th Century.  The first ring was created in the small fishing village of Claddagh.  “Claddagh” comes from the Irish term an Cladach, meaning “flat stony shore.”

Made up of three parts, the components of the ring stand for the necessities of a relationship.

The heart represents love.

The hands symbolize friendship.

And the crown means loyalty.

They can be given in love or in friendship.  Or you can just buy one because they’re pretty.

Claddagh rings can be worn four ways.

If worn on the right ring finger with the heart facing out toward the fingertip, it means the person is not romantically involved; hence the “open” heart

If worn on the right ring finger with the heart facing in toward the wrist, it means the person is in a relationship and their heart is “closed.”

They can also serve as wedding/engagement rings.

If worn on the left ring finger with the heart facing out, it means the person is engaged.

If worn on the left ring finger with the heart facing in, it means they are married.

However, this is all assuming the person knows how to wear a Claddagh ring and is aware of its meaning and symbolic significance.

Claddagh rings are often embellished with Celtic trinity knots (as pictured above).

The information below is courtesy of  What’sYourSign.com

The trinity knot or triquetra (Latin for “three cornered”) can have a number of meanings.

The corners can represent:

Past, Present, Future.

Mind, Body, Spirit.

Thought, Feeling, Emotion.

Power, Intellect, Love.

Creation, Preservation, Destruction.

Other World, Mortal World, Celestial World.

Anyway, I think they’re awesome.  So if you get a chance, check them out.