Three Pieces of Jewelry That Never Go Out Of Style

Jewelry styles come and go but there are some classic designs that simply never go out of style. From a pair of simple hoop earrings to diamond earrings to yellow gold and diamond or gemstone solitaire pendants, certain timeless pieces are always here to stay.

Here we profile three pieces of jewelry that never go out of style...

Ireland’s claddagh regularly hits the headlines when the spotlight comes on it when celebrities are spotted wearing it or it features in a film. But those in the know have been wearing it day after day, through the seasons and years.

The Claddagh ring (fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring representing Love, Loyalty and Friendship. It’s obvious from the design that the heart represents Love, the crown represents Loyalty, and the hands represent Friendship. The Claddagh ring can be worn in a number of different ways to denote the relationship status of the wearer and depending on the message to convey you can wear it on a particular finger or pointed in a particular direction to show if you’re available or claimed. While the Claddagh motif can be used in jewelry in earrings, bracelets, necklaces or brooches, the ring - whether in gold, white gold or silver - remains the most classic piece and is often a first gift of jewelry.

While there are so many gemstones of different colours, emeralds seem to have a classic appeal that always stays relevant. With a rich history associated with opulence and royalty, they date back to ancient civilisations and times. They were mined by the ancient Egyptians as early as 330 BC and were revered as a symbol of eternal life. Not many stones have the cachet of staying in fashion ever since!

Emeralds were believed to possess healing properties and regarded as symbols of growth, peace, new beginnings, love and fertility. The renowned Egyptian queen Cleopatra loved emeralds and often incorporated them into her regal robes.

The cultural significance of emeralds expands well beyond the Western world and in Indian culture emeralds have long been treasured again for their healing properties and mystical powers and were often incorporated into precious spiritual artefacts. In jewelry, emeralds look equally stunning as earrings, an engagement ring or partnered with diamonds in all sorts of jewelry.

The beautiful simplicity of a gold band has a story all of its own. Symbolising both love and commitment, it’s designed to be worn for eternity! As a symbol of love and devotion, it’s been worn since ancient times and is a tradition that has remained popular throughout the ages. Defining relationships, it’s a promise for the future.

So why is it often worn on ‘the ring finger’? Going back to Roman times, it was believed that the ‘vena amoris’, translated as the ‘vein of love’ ran through the ring finger. It was supposed to run straight from the heart to the left ring finger, hence the association with love and devotion.

This was also believed by the Egyptian people and they saw the ring as a symbol of eternity. Their earlier rings were made from reeds and other plants found along the banks of the River Nile and eventually graduated to becoming precious gold.

Interestingly, in order to demonstrate that it was possible for a woman to unlock both a man’s heart and his worldly possessions, wedding rings back then were more of a symbolic purchase agreement than an actual emotional commitment!

While no discussion on classic jewelry is complete without diamonds, the claddagh, emeralds and a gold band really do have their place to shine when it comes to timeless pieces to treasure.