Ireland’s Rich History of Jewelry Design

Celtic Knot Silver Necklace
Celtic Knot Silver Necklace

Ireland has a rich history of jewelry design going back through the ages, from Celtic masterpieces to engraved pieces of treasure that are famous all over the world. The country has always been synonymous with excellence in design and craft going back over the years.

Irish jewelry offers a touch point and nod back to the past but it also offers a vision and insight into the future, which creates interest for buyers in Ireland and all over the world.

Irish jewelry is very popular abroad and currently 25% of all Irish jewelry is exported and the figure appears to be rising. Enterprise Ireland estimates that the craft sector in Ireland is currently worth in the region of €500m to the economy of the country.

Celtic Torc Bangle
Celtic Torc Bangle

The history of Irish jewelry has survived and remained robust throughout the centuries for many reasons, but undoubtedly one of the main factors that has ensured its popularity is that each piece generally has a story behind it.

Since the time of the Celts, Ireland has been renowned all over the world as being a center for excellence in crafts. Now, more than ever, this is appealing to modern jewelry buyers as they look for authenticity and traceability.

Celtic Warrior Brooch
Celtic Warrior Brooch

As far back as 2000BC Celtic craftspeople adapted all sorts of ideas from nature to create very intricate pieces based on very simple motifs such as knot-work and lines using materials such as gold, silver and bronze. The designs later grew to be more complex and additions were made such as animals and spirals and more intricate and complicated Celtic knot-work was woven in to rings, bracelets, torcs, earrings and brooches and pendants.

Jewelry such as that at Rings from Ireland is all hallmarked and the traditional sterling silver has now also been given an added twist, adding touches of gold to silver. All the Celtic and Irish jewelry at Rings from Ireland are made by talented regional craftspeople. When you buy jewelry from Rings from Ireland you are buying genuine Irish quality with a very special story and heritage.

Celtic Cross Necklace
Celtic Cross Necklace

The collections at Rings from Ireland are inspired by Celtic and Irish roots but they are also updated with design features and innovation ensuring that each piece is precious and distinctive.

There is no single aesthetic when it comes to Irish jewelry design. The Celtic designs are the best known but there is also a new sense of contemporary aspects being built in and addition of features like the Ogham language to pieces. Ireland’s rich history of jewelry design is set to last from now into the future.  

Posted on October 1, 2019