The Claddagh ring, which originated in its namesake fishing village in Galway, Ireland, can be traced back to the 17th ...

As we speak, Sweetman receives another order for a Claddagh, from a customer in Japan. “It’s a ring people buy for themselves,” she says.

The Claddagh ring design draws on the clasped hands of fede rings, which date back to Roman times. Joyce is credited with introducing a crown sometime in the 1690s. Photograph by GracePhotos ...

For those unfamiliar with the Claddagh ring’s meaning, the hands, which grasp a crowned heart, are meant to signify love, loyalty, and friendship. How you wear the traditional Irish design can ...