'Sister Wives' Creates Claddagh Ring Craze

Rings and romance. For centuries we lowly humans have been using metal bands around our fingers to say "Go ahead." or "Beat it!"  And while the mainstream tradition in this country is to don a diamond ring and a wedding band, the Claddagh ring is a favorite of the Irish.

And polygamists, apparently.

The latest reality phenom, Sister Wives, tells the tale of a Utah man, his 4 'brides' and their day-to-day shenanigans. Hollywood Life reports the Fab 5 shut down a Utah jewelry store recently to get a Claddagh ring for the newest member of their clan.

Curious about the Claddagh? Here's the lowdown, according to Wikipedia:

The Claddagh's design features two hands clasping a heart, usually topped with a crown. There are four ways to wear the Claddagh: on the right hand with the heart oriented away to show you're single; on the right hand with the heart turned in to show you're in a relationship; on the left hand turned out to show you're engaged; on the left hand turned in to show you're married.

Confused? Think of how Brigham Young must have felt.

I think the Claddagh is a lovely way to rings thing up if you're looking for something different. And there are both men's and women's styles available - like these affordable looks on Jewelry.com:

For the curious, Sister Wives airs on TLC on Sundays at 10pm. And Oprah is grilling the group on today's show!

Affordable Engagement Rings

Buying a diamond engagement ring can be the most important (and stressful) jewelry purchase you can make. While the standard protocol requires fellas to shell out two months' salary, for many folks that's about as realistic as finding true love on "The Bachelorette".

So what do you do when you want to tie the knot without breaking the bank? Some thoughts:

1. Vintage Value

Diamond divas never utter the word 'used'. It's vintage, dahling - and there are many deals to be had in this diamond engagement ring category. Plus you can satisfy the 'eco-friendly' urge since you're buying a rock that's already in the coffers. But be careful to have it appraised before you pull the trigger.

2. Color Your World

This is my favorite emerging engagement ring trend - wearing a gemstone instead of a diamond. Prince Charles gave a stunning sapphire to Diana back in the day and now millions of women are wearing their favorite colored stone instead of the traditional white ice.

I found this stunning sapphire ring on sample sale site, JewelClub - originally $859 now (gulp) only $231.48 with their crazy discount (use the code: INSIDER to become a free 'friends and family' member).

3. Shop Clearance

With a little time and a creative eye, anyone can find a deal so great they'll be telling that story to friends and fam instead of how Jimmy popped the question. While there are a host of credible outlets for discount diamonds, check out JewelClub first. This classic pear-shaped ring is $462.74 down from $2129. Yowza.

4. Palladium: "The Other White Metal"

No longer the forgotten step-child of the precious metal world, palladium is emerging from the shadows as a (MUCH) more affordable option than gold. It looks like platinum or white gold - but it costs much less per ounce. And it's just as durable.

This 1/2carat palladium solitaire on JewelClub is only $572 down from $2649.

So what have we learned? Clearly some engagement rings traditions are meant to be broken - especially in this economy. You really can find a ring you love that doesn't cost the equivalent of a small sedan.

Here's to true love, diamond deals...and more room in the budget for an island honeymoon with fruity cocktails! Happy Friday the 13th, jewelry hounds!