At Irish Celtic Jewels, the designs we offer reference centuries of Celtic history, art, and symbolism.
Our handcrafted Irish and Celtic jewelry designs are adorned with the most beautiful and timeless symbols of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Many of our special pieces evoke the beauty of historic castles, pastoral countrysides, and ancient Celtic artifacts…
Inspired by priceless works of art from the Bronze Age and Early Christian periods, these modern-day pieces offer authenticity, quality and the finest gemstones, pearls and precious metals.
Our pieces are elegant and so versatile; they can can blend beautifully with a modern business wardrobe or a corseted, medieval wedding gown…
If you’re fond of jewelry and your family background is Celtic, you may enjoy learning more about a few signature masterpieces from past centuries…these metal works offer ornate beauty, religious and mystical symbolism, and painstaking attention to detail…
The Tara Brooch
Currently displayed at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, this stunning brooch is an ideal example of Celtic metal work during the early Christian period.
The lineage of this beautiful, silver-and-gold piece of jewelry has been traced back to 700 A.D.
Adorned with delicate filigree work and amber, glass and copper accents, the Tara Brooch also features Celtic interlace engraving.
This woven interlace design element is often found on Celtic jewelry in the medieval period, and it continues to influence the Irish and Celtic jewelry designers of today.
Celtic knot work, which flows endlessly into itself, it considered a symbol of life-force and eternity…
The Tara Brooch was a Celtic penannular pin; used as a fastener on Irish cloaks, this type of large and detailed design was also a status symbol that designated one’s place in society. The brooch shown here was named for Tara, the legendary home of the Irish High Kings…
Torcs –
Heavy circlets of gold were known as torcs, and these substantial necklaces were believed to be bestowed with special powers. In fact, the Celtic gods themselves wore torcs, according to the old legends…
In the Bronze Age and beyond, torcs were used to signify power and nobility. Often weighty and crafted of precious metals, these simple, but striking circlets were worn by men and women…some early medieval torcs are now housed in the antiquities collection at the National Museum Of Ireland.
Sometimes, torcs would feature animal (zoomorphic) symbols, such as dog’s heads – these animal symbols would denote strength, loyalty, and other important character traits; other designs would feature clasps adorned with Celtic spirals (a symbol of the endless cycle of birth, death and spiritual rebirth).
Today, the Celtic spiral is still an important design element in modern Celtic jewelry, including Celtic spiral charms and Celtic spiral wedding bands (as shown at left).
The Celtic spiral motif also appears as an engraving on ancient Celtic burial mounds, passage tombs (including Ireland’s stunning Newgrange Passage Tomb) and rune stones.
Groups of three joined spirals are known as Celtic triskelions…
Lunula Necklaces
Shaped like the crescent moon, these Bronze age necklaces were worn primarily in Ireland.
More delicate than torcs, lunula necklaces were often created from thin sheets of hammered gold, silver or bronze.
These necklaces are believed to be a remnant of Goddess worship – the moon is a powerful Pagan symbol of fertility and sacred womanhood…
In fact, the three phases of the moon are depicted in a Pagan symbol known as the Triple Goddess symbol (shown at left)…
Very few examples of ancient lunula necklaces exist today…these mysterious designs are rare and valuable relics of a lost age.
While most commonly Irish, lunula also appeared in Germany…
One important Irish gold lunula circlet was recovered in the farmlands of Roscommon, Ireland, during the 20th century.
It was later stolen from its resting place in the National Museum Of Ireland, but the priceless piece was eventually recovered and returned to the museum…
Modern Irish Jewelry Pays Homage To Celtic History, Art and Spirituality…
Capture the beauty of ancient Celtic jewelry with a stunning Comfort Fit Ladies Diamond Trinity Knot Wedding Ring.
Adorned with symbols of the Holy Trinity, this handcrafted design references six thousand years of Celtic culture. A Celtic wedding band can be a wonderful way to honor your heritage as you walk down the aisle…
Each piece we offer is created with painstaking care, by Irish artisans who honor the old traditions. A row of icy diamonds adds beauty and shimmer to this unforgettable design, while Trinity Knot detailing gives the ring extra meaning.
For a look at more stunning Irish and Celtic jewelry designs, please visit our online jewelry store…