Unusual Celtic wedding rings; claddagh rings; engagement rings with Celtic themes; Celtic knot jewelry; cross necklaces; sterling silver and gold, traditional and contemporary elegance; unique handcrafted styles, designer quality; affordable prices – sculpted and intricately carved handmade wedding bands in solid sterling silver for under $150, and 14k and 18k gold and diamonds (or other gemstones) in a variety of price ranges. Let us show you where to shop and how to choose the top designer Celtic jewelry online; exquisite, unique, hand crafted and eco-friendly.
Unique Celtic Artisans
Katherine Aberle and Helen Chantler of Artisan Wedding Rings and Reflective Images are two very talented ladies who keep Celtic jewelry alive and fresh through traditional motifs and contemporary conceptualizations of ancient designs, chic and modern yet nearly antique. Contradictions? Perhaps. But there’s no way to describe how they blend strength courage and symbolism with delicacy, femininity and color. How they forge items that could be fit for noblemen/women of old and yet are just as appropriate for contemporary couples. It’s part of their mystery. How ancient motifs of knots and crosses take shape on items like the Medieval Anima or the Bordered Petra with Gem gives rise to thoughts of misty Scottish hills in springtime and fog drifting around Irish crags on a cool winter’s day; of castles and dungeons, of lasses and ladies, of bravery and love so deep it’s twined into knots.
Yes, perhaps Celtic wedding jewelry is the most romantic of any in the world, and I’m unbiased and free to say this because I’m neither Scottish nor Irish nor of Celtic decent, but Spanish and Latin with a penchant for romance in the blood and an eye for beauty in the soul. And so it is that Celtic knot jewelry touches, not only I who write, but millions of admirers dispersed around the world. What touches us is the poignant symbolism, such as the simple knot below the Aria Square Pendant (crafted in both gold and silver) which, in a single entwined motif of three separations that connect, lies the ancient Celtic mythological knot of the feminine trinity – the maiden of youth, the mother of children and the old woman of age. And all the while it is also the heavens above us and the sun that is bright and gives life, the earth that is solid and is home to us all and the world beyond that is yet a mystery to us to remain alive. And still greater it is all that is behind us, all that we live each moment and all that is ever to be.
Does it matter what gemstone or pearl is placed above or below it? Perhaps to the sensibilities of designer Helen Chantler it does, but to those who see each piece, one is as graceful and delicate as the other. By the way, this particular item that’s featured is crafted from 18k gold that was recycled and placed over sterling silver. It was created in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and forms part of Trinity Collection by Helen Chantler, which includes a series of gold and silver Celtic engagement rings and unusual Celtic wedding bands and also earrings, bracelets and pendants.
Let’s get more specific. Let’s move onto a specific area that’s very popular, namely Celtic engagement rings and Celtic wedding bands.
Celtic Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands and Bridal Sets
There are several styles, the first is the Narrow Solaris, the second is the Wide Solaris and then there is a whole series called Garden Gate that come in wide and narrow and extra wide and extra narrow, but with a similar motif.
The items that are two-tone are all crafted from recycled gold placed over sterling silver. The Garden Gate design is available in platinum, yellow gold, white gold and either 14k or 18k. The gemstones you can choose are Canadian diamonds, Malawi or Sri Lanka sapphires or Nyala rubies. Price will depend on the metal chosen as well as the gemstone size and weight. However the basic ring will cost about $1,600.
Instead of choosing a single engagement ring you might want to consider getting a complete Celtic bridal set like the Starry Night with diamonds and a central gemstone of your choice, and the band, for around $2,900 (although prices depend greatly on your specific choices).
There are also some even more unusual creations for those who really want to excel in the romance of the ancients. The designer describes the pieces in this series “iconoclastic”, which means they are ring designs that utilize unusual shapes and forms, blends of concepts and structure as well as elements of gemstone and metals that are not typically used for engagement or wedding jewelry. All the pieces are crafted from recycled metals and display the gorgeous luster of fair trade gemstones, which adds immeasurably to the beauty of the creations.
Other categories of Celtic jewelry in the wedding series are named after their inspirations, for example there are architectural-geometrical rings, botanical designs, mystical creations, romantic-eternal and even tribal-ethnic, all which reflect the same intricate craftsmanship and attention to details. In many cased the styles imitate antique Celtic jewelry ideas but have a clean freshness of modernity that makes them contemporary.
Celtic Cross Jewelry
Celtic cross jewelry can take on many forms, not just the differences between pendants and earrings but the unique shapes of ancient crosses vary greatly. There a collection of crosses sold through Reflective Images, but also designed by Helen, and one such piece is called the Sita Cross, and since it’s creation in 1998 has been a top selling item. The cross is perhaps so popular due to its incredible symbolic nature, not being a Christian symbol of a martyrdom but rather of the crossing of that which is human with that which is divine surrounded by the circle that exemplifies the connectivity of all things.
Another more classic design is the Interlace Cross Pendant, which has a more traditional cross with a lacey background of 4 Celtic knots. The blend of metals being antiqued silver for the cross and 14k gold for the knots, gives a marvelously rich contrast to the piece.
Yet another very different piece of Celtic jewelry that really stands out is the Kells Cross Pendant, which also has matching earrings and a bracelet and can be ordered in silver or a two-tone silver and gold combination. And what is the symbolic meaning of this item? For those who don’t already know, the unique design is representative of foundations that are strong, of structure and communication – again an ideal iconic design for those who are romantics, are entering into a commitment or are entering a phase of life where these qualities will be foremost in their lives be it personal or work related. These items, as complete sets or single pieces, make ideal gifts for those who appreciate unusual handcrafted jewelry with a historic legacy.
In the gold Celtic jewelry department that crosses over into antique and religious all in the same breath, there are yet more crosses, some that feature elaborate knotwork and gemstones. Naturally you can choose blue topaz, amethyst, garnet, opal, peridot, ruby or tourmaline gems and the price will vary accordingly, but the basic design with a gem and a snake chain that’s 18 inches long and the pendant will cost about $185, and the cheapest stone is the blue topaz. For rubies and sapphires you’ll have to add between $100 and $150 more.
Celtic knotwork jewelry is anything but boring or dry, anything but traditional and uninspired, especially when translated through the eyes and heart of a true jeweler with a passion and flair for the past and an eye for what’s current.
Whether you’re looking for medieval designs, antique pieces, contemporary sterling Celtic jewelry, unusual wedding bands or engagement rings with a sense of individuality and meaning, or earrings and pendants with a flair for colour and dramatic shapes, you’d do well to take a stroll through the virtual shops of the talented artists and artisans that work with Helen Chantler at Reflective Images and Artisan Wedding Rings. Although the designs themselves are enough to make most jewelry aficionados get excited there is a second reason to shop for Celtic jewelry online through these places. The added reasons are three-fold:
- when you buy through these shops you are helping a sustainable environment of work and trade that’s fair
- you aid those who work at home and obtain products from those who get their products abroad
- you support recycling of metals like gold, promote the use of conflict free diamonds and clean gemstones.
If you would appreciate more information on Antique Rings, Brooches that are ancient or medieval or with a Celtic or Nordic history, or unusual charm bracelet designs, as well as other gemstone jewelry creations from emeralds and rubies, please visit the related posts that deal with these topics.
We endeavor to provide you with the information you need to buy emerald rings, ruby ring designs and even offer advice on shopping for sterling silver rings and gold jewllery in general. We also deal with pearl ring designs and offer some concrete suggestions on how to save when buying genuine gems or fun fashion jewellery both in the UK and the US.
Related posts:
- Cheap Mens Jewelry – Rings, Bracelets and Gifts
- Silver & Gold Cross Necklace Pendants
- Handmade, Custom and One Of A Kind Jewelry
