Celtic Moment

The Vikings were a brave people whose history is recorded from around 800 AD. Initially from the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark they later influenced the area from Asia to as far as America for around 200 years. They later settled in Britain, France and Russia. An interesting aspect of the Vikings was that they were most particular about their appearance despite their poor sanitary conditions. Their critical attention to their dresses and fashion was reflected in the colorful clothes that they wore. Their women spun these from wool. Vikings were skilled in arts and the crafts too. York or Jorvik in England bears witness to the artistry of the Vikings even in ordinary articles like the sledge, the humble bucket or the comb. They were evidently skilled in the making, shaping and treating of metals and their alloys. Their interest in their appearance and their skill with metals were soon observed in Viking jewelry.

Since jewelry was an indicator of their wealth and social standing the Vikings showed off their status by wearing exquisite earrings, necklaces, broaches on cloaks and bracelets. The Vikings also used jewelry as barter in place of money. Even their swords were carved and engraved with gold and silver motifs. Today’s museum jewelry confirms of a fine 800 AD filigree Viking jewelry. However, most Viking jewelry is exceedingly heavy like a neck ring but some fine workmanship is also evident like the granulation work involving metal grains. There is also 1000 AD jewelry of the Vikings in bronze with motifs of a double horse head. A beautiful bronze arm ring worn by the Vikings was located in Gotland, Sweden.

Today, authentic copies of Viking jewelry can be ordered. These are essentially reproductions from museum jewelry of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. You can buy a set of Viking earrings with Knottet pattern from the 8th/9th centuries or a bracelet with Viking Runes or alphabets in sterling silver from around 750 AD. A set of diamond shaped earrings is especially attractive.

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The beauty and charm of birthstone jewellery is hard to be expressed in words. The birthstones have an everlasting beauty and a mysterious appeal. The unique powers attached to these pretty stones make them more special, tempting and unique. For centuries, birthstones are used in jewellery all over the world. In ancient times it was one of the widely used jewellery and the reason for this was the magical powers attached to them.

The people were crazy to have a birthstone in their rings, bracelets, earrings and other articles as they thought these stones can protect them from harm and other dangers in life. Wearing the birthstones was considered lucky as they were assumed to evade the bad fortune also. It was believed that these stones are a protection item for its wearer and can bring good luck to him or her.

These birthstones have been dedicated to the twelve Zodiac signs and the twelve months of the year. The fascinating garnet is the stone of Aquarius and represents commitment and fidelity. The sophisticated amethyst is associated to the Pisces zodiac. Aries is linked with the bloodstone and the dramatic sapphire is the stone of Taurus. Sapphire represents truth, faithfulness and sincerity.

Agate is the stone of Gemini and the shining emerald is the stone of Cancer. For the Leo, onyx is the dedicated stone. The sizzling red or orange colored cornelian is the stone of Virgo. The pretty and delicate emerald is associated to Libra and the shimmering mermaid’s treasure “aquamarine” is Scorpio’s stone. For Sagittarius the simple and classic topaz is dedicated. And finally passionate ruby is the stone of Capricorn which represents love, power and royalty.

It was also believed that by wearing the endlessly captivating birthstone jewellery one can cure different diseases and problems with the help of the magical power they posses. Wearing a ruby ring was believed to heal the stomach ache and emerald was thought to be good for the eyes. Yellow stones were used to cure jaundice and this idea is still popular and followed by many people. Peridot however was believed to give good sleep, and to cure asthma topaz was used.

The metals used for this type of jewellery are gold, silver and white gold. The gemstones look marvelous in silver color as the beauty and grace of the stone is enhanced. Rings, earring, brooches, pendants and other items are made using these birthstones with divine beauty. There are so many exciting colors of birthstones to choose from. You can give jewellery of birthstones as gifts to your loved ones as it can be a very sentimental keepsake that will be cherished forever.

Many famous celebrities adore the birthstone jewellery and consider different gemstones as lucky for them. They think these stones have brought them the fame they are enjoying today and so they never forget to wear their lucky birthstones either in rings or pendants etc. Some of the famous celebrities including Princess Stephanie of Monaco, singer Roberta Flack and actress Drew Barrymore love wearing amethyst because it is lucky for them. The birthstone of the famous Oscar winner Halle Berry and Grammy winner Whitney Houston is Peridot. Princess Diana also used to wear a sapphire engagement ring.

One would imagine that the age old Celtic jewellery designs would have been lost in the folds of time by now. However, thanks to our jewellery UK designers, these lovely patterns live on in almost all jewellery stores across the nation. Right from the bridal jewellery section to the office wear counter, Celtic designs can be found everywhere. These ornaments are made using gold, silver, platinum and often studded with semi precious as well as precious stones.

While the love for Celtic designs seems to be crossing the border and gaining a universal appeal, it is also true that not many of us how to buy these pieces. One often wonders if they will gel with our more modern and casual dressing style, or should one stick to wearing them only on the traditional occasions.

Rather than fret about this further, simply stick with the advice given below and you find that buying Celtic ornaments has never been easier.

Everyday wear- Not all of us go to jewellery stores looking to buy grand and expensive stuff. Most of us are hoping to buy jewellery that we can wear casually too. Celtic designs can easily be incorporated into your daily wear jewellery, despite their grand designs. Most jewellery UK designers have understood this fact and designed, rings, pendants and even ear wear in materials like silver and other similar cheaper metals that can be worn almost everyday. Try and pick Celtic patterns that look complete even though they have been incorporated in smaller ornaments.

Special occasion wear – If looking to buy Celtic jewellery for a special occasion, so that it has an awe inspiring impact, pick out a slightly larger piece than a smaller one. Neck pieces look especially nice when it comes to Celtic designs, since it allows the designers the freedom of a larger space. Chokers, larger bracelets and even chunkier earrings should be picked when hoping to wear the ornaments at a wedding or a red carpet occasion. These can be in either gold or silver, according to your budget and preference.

Bridal wear – For those brides who wish to adorn these Celtic designs with their lovely white gowns, the sky is the limit. Celtic bridal jewellery is very popular since it lends a majestic aura to the bride. You can pick designs that have semi precious and chunky stones in them in order to add some colour to the jewellery piece. Working with moon stones and even corals will work quite well since these stones blend rather nicely with the Celtic patterns. Keep in mind that these designs usually look better in an antique finish as opposed to a glossy one.

As is evident now Celtic ornaments can be worn almost at any time with any outfit. One simply needs to learn the art of picking and choosing them wisely. Indeed opting for the finely crafted pieces works better since they tend to look much more pleasing to the eye. So when buying Celtic jewellery, do ensure that you pick a piece that is close to your heart, even if it is a bracelet that you will wear around your wrist.

Celtic jewellery has caught everyones attention lately. These designs are not only extremely attractive but they also come as a breath of fresh air from the mundane designs being put forward as machine made jewellery. Encouraged by the buyers response, manufacturers have put forth complete Celtic era jewellery ranges comprising of everything right from rings to jewellery bracelets to neck pieces and of course earrings too.

Designers seem to have realised the need to incorporate these age old Celtic designs in a way so as to suit the needs of the modern day users too. This is one of the main reasons why it is possible today to pick out Celtic designs that can be worn on an everyday basis and not just for 10 minutes of your life for a one time red carpet event.

Keeping the tips listed below will help pick Celtic era jewellery that is more in keeping with the trendy dressing of todays day and age:

1)Finish – When looking for Celtic era jewellery do not restrict your search to the antique look only. Unlike Victorian age jewellery, the Celtic patterns look authentic even in the glossy finish. Keep in mind that modern day dressing will not allow you to wear an ornament with an antique finish very often, while say a silver bracelet that is shiny can be worn with a sequin dress to a disco also.

2)Material When buying chunkier jewellery like big jewellery bracelets or large earring or heavy neck pieces in the Celtic design, keep the material of the ornament in mind. It is a fact the chunky Celtic designs do look good, but they can drill a hole in your pocket too. A chunky silver bracelet would be preferred for everyday wear rather than a platinum one.

3)Light weight heavy look- Chunky Celtic era jewellery is a huge attraction, but sadly wearing these pieces for a long time can become quite cumbersome and interfere in routine daily chores. So, if looking to wear the Celtic era jewellery casually and for longer periods of time, work with ornaments that are hollow from inside so that they are light to wear and yet retain their heavy look.

4)Mix and match When looking to wear Celtic jewellery with your modern day clothes, it will work well to mix and match. Go with Gaelic shoes and a Celtic neck piece while keeping the other accessories modern. This will help in incorporating the age old designs with your modern ones without the former sticking out like a sore thumb.

Jewellery designers are experimenting with silver, gold and platinum and one can pick a Celtic jewellery design in almost any budget. The variety is so large that buyers are simply spoilt for choice and right from large bulky designs to sleek ones, everything is available. However, irrespective of the sum that you spend on these ornaments or the type of jewellery that you buy, do keep in mind that it very important to seek a guarantee in written when making the purchase.

I was on the lookout for the perfect gift for my best friend Mike’s 50th birthday and was astonished when my cousin Maxine suggested Celtic jewellery. Mike is one of those ultra mens men, into rugby and football but too old to play now. A round of golf and propping up the bar at the end of the game is about his limit.

I said no way and laughed when Maxine made the suggestion. Mike is so cave mannish he won’t even use mens deodorant and only uses aftershave when he’s on a promise with his wife Rita. I could imagine the look on his face if I bought him a Celtic pendant or ring – it doesn’t bear thinking about!

Celtic jewellery was out of the question, so my search for something different began. As Mike has been a good friend since our school days I wanted to buy something pretty special for him. I was really flummoxed, no point in going down the cosmetic route and Mike doesn’t read much so books or book tokens were out of the question.

I looked at golf related gifts, but unless I bought something gimmicky there wasn’t anything that he really needed or would use. I like my gifts to be useful as well as different, no point in buying something that is not wanted or used.

I searched the shops in town for 3 hours and ended up with nothing but sore feet and disillusionment. There were plenty of gift packs for men – they are gearing up for Christmas earlier than ever this year – but they were just overpriced and nothing special.

When I got home I sat back comfortably on my sofa, lap top on knee, coffee at my side and searched the Internet. There was a lot more choice than in the shops – you could say that I was spoilt for choice. So much choice I still couldn’t decide what to get for Mike’s birthday present.

Out of interest I keyed ‘mens Celtic jewellery’ into a search engine and was totally astonished at what I saw. Unique, intricate, gorgeous designs that looked really special to me.

I loved the unique Celtic jewelry designs so much that I was keen to buy but then I pictured Mike wearing a Celtic bracelet, pendant or ring and just couldn’t do that to him unless as a joke gift before the main present. There was a neat dress watch with a Celtic bracelet, but I knew that Mike’s wife Rita had bought him a watch for his last birthday.

Then I clicked on a link and found exactly what I was looking for. A few weeks earlier I’d seen him at the pub and he’d been grumbling about it being cold on the golf course and it was in the middle of an English summer! With winter coming on it was a good idea to buy him a gift that he could enjoy, was useful and kept him warm whilst playing his favourite game.

That special gift idea was a hip flask with an intricate Celtic cross adorning the side. Brilliant! I knew that Mike would love that. Filled with his favourite brandy it would keep him warm on a cold English winter or summers day.

I also bought Mike a Celtic design key ring and fob and an early Christmas gift for myself – a really gorgeous pewter and malachite Celtic bracelet. The prices for Celtic jewellery are unbelievably low for such beautiful workmanship and the designs have special symbolic meanings.

Gold bracelet is an elegant piece of jewellery. When you wear this bracelet it gives you a glare touch. Gold jewellery gives a stylish look to the wearer whether he is wearing formals or casual. It gives a standard look for what you have desired, as it has its own style affects. This delicate piece of jewellery is creating a magic to every jewellery lover. This delicate piece of jewellery tempts every eye around it with its shiny finish.

When you wear a gold bracelet remember that the measurement of the bracelet is very important, according to the wear’s wrist. The average width of the bracelet should be 7 inch; a wear with the healthy wrist should go for 8.5 inch bracelet and for the wrist which are delicate and pretty should wear 6 inch bracelet which will give a wonderful look to your personality. You can also make your own style with the broad bracelet charmed with beautiful dangles on it or else you can also exhibit with this bracelet.

The beauty of bracelet was persuaded by women from many years. Gold bracelet gives a touch of elegance to the beauty of women. Some years before bracelet jewellery was so famous that it was like a holy bracelet not a single female was seen with out a bracelet. That’s why it is considered that nothing can replace the charm of the gold bracelet. To get a spectacular look for your personality there are many varieties of bracelet you can find. The most famous Celtic bracelet is growing popularity, because its dissimilar look takes hold of attention to every eye. Golden wires are also woven with great ins and outs creating a grand bracelet; it can also be a wonderful gift for your wife or else your girlfriend.

The custom of wearing birthstone jewellery is very old and it started in Poland for the first time in the fifteenth century. Birthstones are thought to have a magical power. People in ancient times believed that the special powers attached to the birthstones protect the wearer and endow him with special characteristics. People used to wear jewellery of birthstones because they thought that by wearing these precious and powerful stones they can ward off an evil eye and avoid bad luck. Wearing beautiful and colorful stones is considered lucky as they can bring good fortune to the wearer. It is still a fashion to have the jewellery articles having birthstones.

These gorgeous gemstones have been associated with the twelve signs of zodiac. A particular color of stone is associated to each month in a year and it is believed that the birthstone transmits its special powers to the person who wears it. Every gemstone represents a month. The dazzling garnet is the birthstone of January. This divine maroon colored stone is believed to signify wisdom when worn by men and in women it indicates politeness and vigilance. With February amethyst is associated which is a symbol of peace and tranquility. The beautiful and stunning blue aquamarine is the birthstone of March and serves as a protection to sailors from the dangers and risks they face when they are sailing.

There may be more than one birthstone for a particular month. Different cultures prepare their own list of the birthstones for the twelve months and the jeweler’s association prepares a standardized list of the stones. For the month of April the associated stone is the most expensive and valuable diamond. Diamond is very stylish and elegant stone and is simply adored by everyone. The fascinating emerald is the birthstone of May and the cool and classy pearl is June’s gemstone. The glamorous emerald represents rebirth and fertility and the pearl symbolizes love, purity and power.

Birthstones have been adored by thousands of people belonging to different cultures since ancient times. These gorgeous stones have a timeless beauty and are very charming. The birthstones have a real meaning and significance and that is why they are so popular among all cultures. The hot month of July has the most passionate stone Ruby which indicates love and royalty. Birthstone jewellery can be found for all these stones.

Peridot is the stone of August and is associated with luck and peace. Romans also called Peridot the emerald of evening. The stone symbolizing faithfulness and sincerity is the brilliant sapphire and is the stone of September. The stone of opal is also known as ‘fire stone’ and reflects all the colors of a rainbow. This stone is related to the month of October and is a symbol of hope and luck.

People having a taste for romance and passion love to wear this kind of jewellery. It is personalized jewellery and everyone loves to wear it because it is reflective of their personality.

Moreover people like to have the lucky birthstone jewellery to avoid misfortune and bad luck. The birthstone for the month of November is the sizzling topaz which is a symbol of love and affection. Topaz comes in beautiful colors like white, yellow, blue and pink. But the yellow topaz is the rarest and highly valuable of all the colors. The stone of December is the beautiful turquoise and it is a symbol of beauty and good fortune.

The ancient Celts, who dominated mid and Western Europe for several years, later lived in Ireland for many centuries. They left a strong influence on culture, art and linguistics of Europe. The jewellery of Celtics was inspired by nature and intricate designs using gold, silver and bronze. These items were produced by Celtic craftsmen. Their creation was remarkable with simple motifs consisting of spirals and animals as prominent figures in Celtic jewellery. One of the well known designs of Celtic pieces was the knot work, crosses woven into knot work was a very sophisticated jewellery design. The knot work designs were used in rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches and pendants.

The Celts had a strong belief in the interconnectedness of life, and they reflected this belief through their interlaced jewellery patterns. The pieces of jewellery were so fine that they were also called the ‘work of angels’. The knowledge about Celtic culture was never found in the written form, and word of mouth was the only source to get to know about their culture and beliefs. The enchanting designs of knot and other interlace patterns was also use in wood carving and textiles. These extraordinary patterns were also used to adorn the bible monuments and for jewellery making.

Cross is a symbol of faith and ethnic heritage and it is often used as a sign of Irish, Scottish or Welsh identity. Celtic cross enclosed in a circle is an icon of eternity that stresses upon the endlessness of God’s love as shown through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The cross also represents the four quarters of the earth and the four elements; earth, water air and fire. The knot work design is prominent in all the exquisite designs. The Celtic knot work art represents love and the eternal nature of things. You can find the knot work rings, earrings pendants and brooches in silver and gold metals.

Claddagh design is also a popular and elegant design of Celtic jewellery. It symbolizes love and friendship. The design usually has three parts; the crown at the top which is representative of fidelity and devotion, the heart in the center of the design representing love and the hands that surround it represent friendship.

Another captivating design of Celtic items consists of Pentacles. It is a five-point star backed by a circle. Pentacles are believed to represent the five elements; earth, air, fire, water, and spirit, or the five stages of Life; birth, youth, adulthood, old age, and death. And the star in the design symbolizes the continuity and connection between the extremes.

Celtic jewels should be bought from retailers dealing in authentic Celtic ornaments. Copies of Celtic pieces are also available on the market so you need to be careful while buying Celtic jewels to get the original and valuable pieces of jewellery. You can also shop for Celtic jewellery online by selecting your choice of metal, stones if you want, and size which is the most important part. The size of original Celtic articles of jewellery is hard to change so always buy the right size of jewellery.

Celtic ancient jewellery is composed of various symbols and designs like trinity knots, spiral, Celtic crosses, and knot work which had religiously significant meanings for the Celts. Celtic sterling silver jewellery and Celtic & Irish charms and earrings are quite popular all over the world. Cross pendants and trinity knot bracelets are also liked by a lot of people. Many kinds of stones and metals were used in this type of jewellery to decorate and create swirls and interlocking designs. Celtic crosses are worn as an identity of Irish and Scottish roots. These crosses are still available in sterling silver and often complemented with gemstones and diamonds.

Irish Claddagh jewellery and tattoos are also quite popular. The Claddagh symbol is around 300 years old. This type of jewellery is named after a village in Ireland called the Claddagh. The symbol consists of two hands supporting a heart with a crown. This is a unique concept which can be applied to a number of examples from everyday life. Some people say it represents the love between a mother and her child, while others claim that it symbolizes the eternal love between husband and wife. You can find Irish Claddagh rings in 18k gold decorated with a beautiful heart-shaped gemstone. This type of a ring can also be given as a lovely present to your loved one.

Three-legged emblem in Celtic ancient jewellery represents three aspects of life or three spheres; land, sea and sky. It is also known as the triskele or triskelion. This symbol has its roots in the ancient Sicilian culture and has been seen on various Greek coins. The three-legged spiral symbolized the trinity in many cultures after the pagan and medieval times ended. It is now seen on contemporary jewellery articles from various countries. Other popular symbols in Celtic art include the clockwise spiral, the anti-clockwise spiral, two spirals with clockwise rotation, a double spiral and some variations of these basic patterns.

While looking for ancient jewellery some people are also interested in finding lucky and astrological jewellery. One can find lovely pendants for each sign of the Zodiac in Celtic jewellery. These pendants are made of metal alloys and pewter. Celtic astrology is quite interesting. You will find symbols engraved on these pendants based on some ancient scripts. According to Celtic astrology, people who are born in the month of January are trustworthy and ambitious. Those born in October love to travel. December represents evil and bluntness. Similarly, all months represent some characteristics.

In Celtic ancient jewellery you can find beautiful rings, bracelets, brooches, necklaces and earrings. Bangles with engraved sign language can also be found in this category. If you like antique items, you will love this type of jewellery. Celtic necklaces are composed of shields and heart-shaped pendants made of sterling silver with beads and gemstones. Celtic engagement rings are quite popular in Ireland and Scotland. Many people also love to wear Celtic charms in bracelets and chains. In addition to these, one can find lovely coin jewellery and Celtic warrior jewellery in this category which is unique and simply exquisite.

I was desperately searching for the perfect gift for my friend Mike’s 50th birthday and was astonished when my cousin suggested Celtic jewellery. Mike is one of those mens men, into rugby and football but too old to play now. A round of golf and propping up the bar at the end of the game is about his limit.

I said no way and laughed when Maxine made the suggestion. Mike is so cave mannish he won’t even use mens deodorant and only uses aftershave when he’s on a promise with his wife Rita. I could imagine the look on his face if I bought him a Celtic pendant or ring – it doesn’t bear thinking about!

Celtic jewellery was out of the question, so my search for something different began. As Mike has been a good friend since our school days I wanted to buy something pretty special for him. I was really flummoxed, no point in going down the cosmetic route and Mike doesn’t read much so books or book tokens were out of the question.

I looked at golf related gifts, but unless I bought something gimmicky there wasn’t anything that he really needed or would use. I like my gifts to be useful as well as different, no point in buying something that is not wanted or used.

I searched the shops in town for 3 hours and ended up with nothing but sore feet and disillusionment. There were plenty of gift packs for men – they are gearing up for Christmas earlier than ever this year – but they were just overpriced and nothing special.

When I got home I sat back comfortably on my sofa, lap top on knee, coffee at my side and searched the Internet. There was a lot more choice than in the shops – you could say that I was spoilt for choice. So much choice I still couldn’t decide what to get for Mike’s birthday present.

Out of interest I keyed ‘mens Celtic jewellery’ into a search engine and was totally astonished at what I saw. Unique, intricate, gorgeous designs that looked really special to me.

I loved the unique Celtic jewelry designs so much that I was keen to buy but then I pictured Mike wearing a Celtic bracelet, pendant or ring and just couldn’t do that to him unless as a joke gift before the main present. There was a neat dress watch with a Celtic bracelet, but I knew that Mike’s wife Rita had bought him a watch for his last birthday.

Then I clicked on a link and found exactly what I was looking for. A few weeks earlier I’d seen him at the pub and he’d been grumbling about it being cold on the golf course and it was in the middle of an English summer! With winter coming on it was a good idea to buy him a gift that he could enjoy, was useful and kept him warm whilst playing his favourite game.

That special gift idea was a hip flask with an intricate Celtic cross adorning the side. Brilliant! I knew that Mike would love that. Filled with his favourite brandy it would keep him warm on a cold English winter or summers day.

I also bought Mike a Celtic design key ring and fob and an early Christmas gift for myself – a really gorgeous pewter and malachite Celtic bracelet. The prices for Celtic jewellery are unbelievably low for such beautiful workmanship and the designs have special symbolic meanings.