Making of the Claddagh

In this section we will take a step by step walk through the making of the Claddagh ring. Pictures taken from our crafts workshop in Dublin, Ireland.

Step 1 The rough silver is melted in the crucible.	Step 2 When the silver is in liquid form it can be poured into the ingot.
Step 3 When the silver has cooled it can be taken out of the ingot.	Step 4 We now have the bar form.
Step 5 The bar is put through the rollers to get the shape right.	Step 6 The metal is gradually brought down to the right thickness.
Step 7 The strip of metal is hammered round.	Step 8 The guideline is carved into the round piece.

Step 09 Finally the claddagh pattern is drawn onto the metal.	Step 10 The pattern is drawn on the rough silver & carefully cut out by saw.
Step 11 A sawblade of only 1.2mm is used for better accuracy with this delicate work.	Step 12 The hands & crown are shaped better before the heart can be inserted. This is done using a safetyback needle file.
Step 13 The heart is now shaped from rough silver using saw & file.	Step 14 The master craftsman gets the heart exactly correct.
Step 15 The heart is gently hammered into place.	Step 16 Only when he is absolutely certain that everything is perfect does he solder the heart permanently into the ring.

Step 17 A variety of different shaped tools called Scorpers are used.	Step 18 At this point the last of the detail is carved into the ring.
Step 19 Each area is painstakingly detailed.	Step 20 Every detail must be perfect to ensure that later copies are up to standard.
Step 21 Every detail must be perfect to ensure that later copies are up to standard.	Step 22 The sides are mopped to remove marks from the felt.
Step 23 The front is mopped to remove emery marks.	Step 24 The bristle brush is ideal for the hard to reach places.

Step 25 For the very last stages the polisher changes to much less abrasive mops called "rouge mops".	Step 26 This is how the piece gets it’s mirror finish.
Step 27 Finally the claddagh is blasted by a pressurized jet of steam.	Step 28 Strips of rubber are cut in the size of the frame.
Step 29 The impression of the master is made and then cut from the rubber.	Step 30 The impression of the master is made and then cut from the rubber.
Step 31 The cut outs are used to fill in the area around the piece until it is covered.	Step 32 The piece is inside layers of rubber & placed in the frame.

Step 33 The mould has been forced under great pressure for 20 hours.	Step 34 The mould maker can now begin to cut out the master pattern.
Step 35 Great care has to be taken not to deface the impression left in the mould....	Step 36 .....great care has to be taken not to deface the impression left in the mould.

Final Claddagh ring master pattern and mould impression

Final Step
The final result is the master pattern intact & the perfect impression made in the mould.

Did You Know?

Claddagh is the name is a small fishing village in the West of Ireland.

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