Celtic jewelry's origins date back at least 2500 years.

In 1850, a rare and beautiful brooch was found in County Louth, Eire. Dating from the 8th century, it was of gilded white bronze, a fine example of early Celtic jewelry.

The culture of the Celts is believed to have originated in what is now Austria about 700BC. Within a couple of hundred years they were producing bracelets, rings and beads, decorated with enameling and engraving.

The Celts, credited with the invention of the chariot and worshipers of the horse goddess Epona, were also famous throughout Europe for gold and silver ornaments and bronze harness decorations.

To see why Celtic inspired designs are so popular, look at the beautiful ring below.

About 250BC the Celts moved to the British Isles, then were pushed into Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland after the Roman invasion.

The establishment of Celtic monasteries in Ireland marked the beginning of anincredibly creative period that spanned about 200 years from the 6th to 8thcentury AD. As well as silver chalices and portable shrines, there wereilluminated manuscripts (the most famous is the Book of Kells) and the carved stone high crosses found in Scotland and Ireland.

Celtic crafts were not only for religious purposes, but for decoration, as shown by the Tara brooch and two other 8th century brooches, the Hunterston – found inScotland in 1826 – and Londesborough brooch from Ireland.

There was a brief fashion for Celtic jewelry in the 1850s, thanks to the discovery of the Tara brooch, but its revival really dates from the early 20th century when first J Romilly Allen and then George Bain became passionate advocates for all Celtic crafts. Their books are the foundation on which Celtic crafts now rest.

Scotland, Ireland and Wales are the modern centers for Celtic jewelry, with artists faithfully reproducing traditional designs or using them as the basis for their work.

A Celtic engagement ring is something of unique and timeless quality. Its historical significance is something that can be cherished for many years.