14K Two Tone Gold Silver 3D Heavy & Thick Celtic Cross Claddagh Pendant Necklace

<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Three-Dimensional. This cross is solid Sterling Silver with 14K Gold Claddagh inserts and is Hallmarked 925. It was individually handcrafted by a Silversmith in Ireland.&nbsp;</strong></span></p> <p><span><strong>All our Jewellery is high quality with good weights but this cross is extra heavy and large.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This piece comes with an option of a 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24" silver chain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Dimensions</strong>: 2" in length (not including bail), 1" in width at widest point.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Weight: </strong>15.5 grammes approx</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Retail Value: $229.99</strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Meaning of Design</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>The Claddagh:</strong>&nbsp;<em>the crown represents loyalty, the heart represents love, and the hands represent friendship.This ancient An original symbol of the "Fisher Kings" of the Galway town of Claddagh, Ireland, (pronounced clada) the design was first fashioned into the traditional ring back in the 17th Century during the reign of Mary II. Legend has it that an Irish young man, Richard Joyce, bound for the West Indian slave plantations - no doubt the Irish Carribean island of Montserrat - was kidnapped himself in rough seas by a band of Mediterranean pirates and sold to a Moorish goldsmith who over the many long years of his exile helped him perfect the skills of a master craftsman. When in 1689 King William III negotiated the return of the slaves, Joyce returned to Galway - despite, it said, the Moor's offer of the daughter's hand in marriage and a princely dowry of half of all his wealth. Back in Ireland a young women had never stopped faithful waiting for her true love to return. Upon which time when he presented her with the now famous Royal Claddagh gold ring - a symbol of their enduring love. Two hands to represent their friendship, the crown to signify their loyalty and lasting fidelity, and the sign of the heart to symbolise their eternal love for each other.</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Celtic Crosses: </strong><em>Throughout Ireland &amp; Scotland, the celts crafted these magnificent symbols in stone. Celtic Crosses pre-date Christianity and were first used by pagans to worship the sun. In pagan times the circle of the celtic cross represented the sun, being the center of their lives. It was not untill the 4th century AD when it was introduced by the first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine, that the Celtic Cross was used to represent Christ's victory. During the great conversion of many pagans to christianity, Christian Philosophers adapted the Celtic Cross and thought the meaning of the circle to represent Christ, the center of Christianity.</em></span>