by Sam Serio The mysterious and the mystical have had the power to hold human beings in thrall throughout the millennia. Celtic jewelry shares this power as an extension and a reminder of the traditions and rituals of the Celts, an ancient European people. Today, men and women of all ages wear Celtic jewelry not only for its beauty, but also for its symbolism and metaphysical connotations. Also popularly—though inaccurately—known as Claddagh jewelry, Celtic jewelry is appreciated for its intricacy and esthetic appeal. Numerous patterns of Celtic origin, such as the spiral and the cross, are incorporated by jewelers into their creations. The Celtic spiral symbolizes eternity and is used abundantly in many Celtic jewelry items today. Just as popular is the Celtic cross, which pre-dates the Christian cross by about two centuries. The Celtic cross is thought to bring knowledge, understanding and the fortitude to deal with trials and adversities, as compared to the Christian cross, which...