The whole history of the Claddagh ring can be traced back to a small fishing village in Ireland. They means friendship, love, and loyalty. The hands signify friendship, the heart love and the crown loyalty. There are two ways to wear the ring. The original way is on your left ring finger (as a wedding ring), with the point of the heart pointing toward the wrist to show that the wearer is married.

 

The second way to wear the claddagh ring is on your right ring finger if you wear the heart pointing towards your wrist it means you have been spoken for, if you wear the heart pointing towards your finger tips than it means you are single.

 

The first Claddagh ring can be traced back through history to the 1600's. In a small fishing village in Ireland named Claddagh. A young man named Richard Joyce was aboard a ship that was taken over by pirates, the crew of the boat was sold into slavery. Richard was heart broken because he was to marry his true love that week. It is said that he was sold to a wealthy Moorish goldsmith who taught him his trade. This is where Richard designed the Claddagh ring for his love(a woman in his village).In the late 1600's William III was crowned in England and demanded all the english slaves be released. The wealthy Moorish goldsmith offered Richard his daughters hand in marriage and half his wealth to stay, but Richard only wanted to return to his love back home. Richard returned home to find his love had never married, he gave her the ring he designed. They were married and Richard opened a goldsmith shop in Claddagh.