Things You'll Need:
- Claddagh Rings
- Auction Magazines
- Bridal Magazines
- Bridal magazines
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Step 1
Learn what the symbols on the ring stand for. For instance, the heart means love, the hands signify friendship and the crown reflects loyalty.
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Step 2
Understand that the way you wear the ring sends a message about your relationship status.
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Step 3
Show that your heart is open or available by wearing the ring on your right hand with the hearts facing outward, or toward your fingernail.
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Step 4
Wear the ring on your right hand as a sign of friendship prior to the wedding, with the heart facing inward toward your wrist. This shows that your heart is taken.
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Step 5
Switch the ring onto your left ring finger during the wedding ceremony, to show that two hearts have been joined forever. Be sure that the hearts again face inward.
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Step 6
Shop around for a ring you like. Although plain gold is a popular choice, you can also find the ring in silver and/or decorated with gemstones.
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Step 7
Visit antique dealers and thrift shops if you want to look for a ring that has some history to it.
Comments
sunshineandrose said
on 3/8/2009 Thanks for the tips. I was confused about how ti wear the ring.
shadowcutter said
on 1/15/2009 when I did research on this several years ago I read that right hand with crown facing towards you (heart toward fingernail) means single/unattached; right hand with crown towards fingernail means "considering love"; left hand with heart towards fingernail means engaged; and left hand with crown towards fingernail means married. since then I haven't seen the reference to the "engaged" position anywhere, so I'm getting a little confused about how that really should work. Did the tradition lose the "engaged" position, and did that change the "considering love" position (which I took to mean "in a relationship")?
also I read back then that traditionally a Claddagh is supposed to be given as a gift and never purchased for yourself. Is that still the case and if so, can you buy a replacement ring for yourself if you lost the Claddagh you were given? or do you have to be given a new one?
boshog said
on 11/26/2007 point your main finger at the base of the crown and turn topwise.
Sassy83 said
on 9/18/2007 The way you wear it is...
Single: right hand, heart facing out because you are sending your love out to the world to be received by some one special (when looking at your hand the ring is upside down)
Taken: right hand, heart facing in because you are saving all your love for one person. (when looking at your hand the ring is right side up)
Married: left hand, inward because you have found the one your love will always be saved for. (when looking at your hand the ring is right ways up)
The reason for the direction is from when men would kiss a lady's hand he could see where her heart was. form his angle the only time he can see it right way round is when the woman was looking for love.
The meaning I was always taught, which I have never found online, is "with these hands I give you my heart and crown it with me love"
Hope this helps...
midnytAngel18 said
on 8/8/2007 To anybody who is confused about how to wear the ring:
If ones heart was not won by love yet, the claddagh ring would be worn on the right hand with the crown facing inward.
When you are engaged, the claddagh ring would still be worn on the right hand but would be turned so the crown faced outwards(towards the fingernail).
Upon marriage, the claddagh ring would be worn on the left hand with the crown turned outwards(towards the fingernail), and would serve as a wedding ring.