| A most recognizable Celtic design is the Knot. It | | | | in pendants with knot work mixed in. |
| can be seen carved in stones, artifacts and | | | | Many Irish jewelers incorporate knots with hearts. |
| jewelry. The popularity of Celtic knots began | | | | The knots are inlayed into the heart making an |
| during the Christian era. This type of knot is | | | | ornately designed pendant. Celtic animal or plant |
| incorporated in Christian architecture as seen in its | | | | pendants are also popular designs. The shamrock |
| religious structures and in Christian writings and | | | | or four-leaf clover, the Irish symbol for Luck, |
| texts. This ornamental interwoven design holds | | | | features prominently in jewelry, especially |
| different meanings. For the Celts, these knots | | | | pendants and are often mixed with knot patterns. |
| with no apparent beginning and end, symbolized | | | | Other objects used in pendants are the moon and |
| the concept of eternity, the spiritual quest for | | | | the sun. Jewelers have made pendants with |
| rebirth, or a person's attempt at making sense of | | | | detailed designs mixing together knots and these |
| the maze that he is traversing in life. | | | | two astronomical symbols. Celtic arrows with knot |
| This distinctive piece of artwork is translated into | | | | designs are also seen on pendants. This is a |
| different geometric forms - circle, triangle, square, | | | | popular pendant for men. |
| and rectangle. From the simple single knot | | | | Depending on the design elements, the shape of |
| patterns to complex grids and mazes, the Celtic | | | | Celtic knot pendants can be geometric - triangles, |
| Knot has many variations. | | | | squares, circles, rectangles, etc. There are also |
| The Trinity Knot or Triquetra is the most | | | | teardrop shaped knot pendants. |
| recognizable variant of the knot. Triquetra is Latin | | | | For the base of the pendant the different |
| for three-cornered. This pattern is often linked to | | | | precious metals used by jewelers are Sterling |
| the concept of interconnectedness of three | | | | silver, platinum, titanium, pewter and gold in |
| elements. Early Christians saw it as a symbol for | | | | different carats (starting from 9cts. upwards) and |
| the Holy Trinity. For pagans, it symbolized Mother, | | | | colors (yellow, white, rose, black and others). |
| Crone and Maiden. The more metaphysical | | | | Some pendants are two-tone, a combination of |
| representation is the concept of mind, body and | | | | the different metals or two different colors of |
| spirit. Other styles of Celtic knots are the | | | | gold. |
| Quaternary knot and Dara knot. | | | | There are pendants that make use of crystals, |
| Many Celtic pendants are made of intricate knot | | | | glass, precious and semiprecious gemstones like |
| patterns. A pendant is a hanging piece of jewelry | | | | diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, jade, |
| that slides or hangs on a chain. A locket is a type | | | | opal, turquoise and many more, pearls and other |
| of pendant that opens. You can insert a picture or | | | | materials. The personal choice of adornments |
| a very small object in the locket. One of the | | | | may be influenced by the wearer's birth month or |
| earliest types of jewelry was the pendant. Men | | | | the perceived metaphysical qualities that it may |
| wore objects around their necks in the ancient | | | | bring. |
| times in order to make statements about | | | | The chain holding the pendant can use the same |
| themselves. Nowadays, men still enjoy wearing | | | | material. Chains can be simple or ornate precious |
| pendants as much as women do. | | | | metals or strings of gemstones, pearls, beads and |
| Knot pendants incorporate other Celtic elements | | | | others. Leather, cord or rope, and ribbons are |
| or designs. For instance, the cross is usually | | | | sometimes used to hang the pendant around the |
| infused with knot work. The Celtic cross is a type | | | | neck. The length of the chain also varies. |
| of vertical cross with a ring around the junction of | | | | Celtic knot pendants are a wonderful addition to |
| the cross. You can sometimes see knots | | | | anyone's jewelry collection; women, men and |
| embossed on the cross itself. | | | | children. Whether you buy it as a gift for yourself |
| The Claddagh design made up of two hands | | | | or someone else, this intricately designed piece of |
| holding a heart with a crown above it is also seen | | | | jewelry will most definitely be a keeper. |