St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and that means copious amounts of green costumes and public revelry! Here at QJR, however, we’re taking some time to reflect on the beauty of Irish culture- in jewelry, of course! Take a look at a few hidden meanings that we absolutely love.
Shamrocks & Four Leaf Clovers:
An antique pearl four-leaf clover pin
Most people wave four-leaf clovers and shamrocks around during St. Patrick’s Day, with the vague idea that it brings good luck. While that belief is certainly true, there’s a deeper meaning behind these cute plants. It is said that the shamrock was used as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity by St. Patrick himself, and it continues to be a symbol of Ireland today.
Connemara Marble:
A Connemara marble shamrock pin converted to necklace
Connemara marble is the most Irish thing you can wear without blatantly screaming Ireland in someone’s face. It’s the national gemstone of Ireland, and it is primarily mined in Connemara, a well-known region in West Galway, Ireland. Curiously enough, the name “Connemara marble” is a misnomer- the stone does not belong to the marble category. It is actually an amalgamation of different rocks, with a high concentration of serpentine.
Claddagh Ring:
A Claddagh ring, engraved with love, loyalty, and friendship.
Our personal favorite out of all the symbols in Irish jewelry, the Claddagh ring’s origins actually stretch far beyond Ireland. They are a variant of the fede ring, which comes from the Italian phrase “mani in fede” or “hands joined in faith.” The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.
In recent years, people enjoy wearing Claddagh rings as an indication of friendship, romantic love, or simply cultural pride. Depending on how the ring is worn on the hand, it can mean different things, such as engagement. The design is so distinctive and versatile, we just can’t help but adore it!
Which Irish jewelry symbol do you love the most? Let us know in the comments!
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