Scottish Jewellery: A guide to our NEW Jewellery Section
Kiltmakers.co.uk has done it again! They have succeeded in bringing you some of the finest and highest quality Celtic Jewellery available. Not familiar with the origin and meanings of the Celtic symbols? Then keep reading.
Celtic Knots are one of the most enduring symbols in history, though their exact meaning is somewhat elusive. Written records are sparse and the records of Celtic invaders and persecutors may be slightly biased. Various Celtic Knot designs started appearing around 450 AD and it is believed that they symbolize eternity or endlessness. When you look at a Celtic Knot there is no beginning, nor an end. Their weavings are at times beautifully complex or just simply beautiful. Sometimes known as the ‘mystic knot’ or the ‘endless knot’, they are most often given to a loved-one as a symbol of everlasting love or as a talisman for a charmed life.
The symbolism of the Celtic Cross is much harder to explain. The ancient Druids first derived this design as a symbol of the knowledge achieved through living life and as a reminder of how their faith guided them to knowing the mysteries of life through the 4 methods to ascension: self-awareness, wisdom, nature and spiritual awareness. The cross was, and still is, a symbol of that journey. Circles around the Cross arose out of a desire to symbolize the ‘whole’ or the inclusion of unification and totality. Give this as a gift of understanding and love to those you care deeply for.
Amethysts and Heathergems are the most prevalent gems incorporated into the Kiltmakers jewellery line. Amethysts have long been used in ancient times for medicinal purposes and as a symbol of divinity; more recently in history they are esteemed as the gem defining friendship. Amethysts combined with a Celtic Knot would be the perfect symbol and gift of an enduring friendship or love. Heathergems, on the other hand, are man-made; the process involved in making them is amazing and due to the nature of their manufacture, no two stones will be exactly the same. Briefly, here is the process: Scottish Heather is collected, cut, shot-blasted to remove the bark, cleaned and then dyed using all natural dyes. The heather used is too old to provide nutrition for wildlife and is pulled in a manner which promotes the growth of new heather. Then, different combinations of coloured stems are put into a machine that compresses the heather into blocks under an amazing eighty tons of pressure, similar to how minerals are compressed by the earth to create many precious and semi-precious gemstones. The result is a multi-coloured stone block that is then cut into sections, which are then wrought into shapes using a lathe and a Gravograph computer-controlled machine. Mind you, this process is accomplished mostly by hand by highly skilled artisans. Finally, the cut shapes are sanded, polished and hand-lacquered with 5 coats before being set into the stunning silver and pewter jewellery pieces presented here.
Kiltmakers’ newest jewellery line combines the timeless symbols of Celtic Lore with the craftsmanship that you have come to expect when making a purchase from Kiltmakers. Combining semi-precious silver and pewter metals with the vibrant colours of Amethysts and Heathergems, this collection of brooches, earrings, pendants, charms, bangles and kilt pins will make gift-giving effortless and affordable, yet exceedingly tasteful. You might even find a little something for yourself!
