Symbolic Jewelry Gifts for Valentines Day?
By Jewelry & Gemology Gurus, Richard & DeNise & Pettersson

Why not! Traditionally the valentine symbol has been the symbol of the heart.  This symbol has been used by every culture on earth for thousands of years and each culture holds similar meaning.  For instance the Irish Claddagh is a ring given as a token of love and is often worn as a wedding ring. The Claddagh's design depicts two hands holding a heart and usually topped with a crown.  These symbolic elements are often said to represent the qualities of love shown as the heart, friendship shown as the hands, and loyalty shown as the crown. When the ring was presented, the giver would say “With my two hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my loyalty.”  There are as you probably know hundreds of stylized depictions of heart symbols used in every possible way to send the message of love.

Why do we wear these symbols as a ring?
The unbroken circle is an ancient symbol of eternity which is what we all hope our relationships will last. Therefore, the wedding ring is worn as a symbol of eternal love. The ring, being a circle is said throughout the world as having strong magical properties and power. Ancient Egyptians in the deserts of North Africa started this tradition and made rings from the woven reeds from the Nile River, and wore them on the left hand ring finger as it was thought that the vein in that finger traveled directly to the heart.  In later centuries, more durable and valuable metals were used.  In fact, it was thought in Irish folklore to be bad luck or even illegal to be married with a ring made of anything but gold!

So, you don’t want to give a heart to your husband, son or boyfriend?
Ancient hieroglyphs are a fantastic resource for design elements, especially for men.  What is the message you want to give him?  Love, protection, strength, wisdom, peace, unity?  There are symbols for all of these, and you can seek the most desirable design element by checking the symbol you want in many different cultures such as Celtic, Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Irish, and Scottish. Many Native American symbols integrate beautifully into masculine jewelry.

Start early, do your research and take your chosen design element to your custom jeweler and they can assist you in designing a truly unique, personalized and meaningful gift to present.

Big Blend Radio: DeNise was a featured guest on Champagne Sundays radio on January 10, 2010. To meet the rest of the guests and listen to the entire show, please click here. To listen to DeNise's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.