How to put on and take off a Torc Bangle
Written by Ciaran on Sep 25, 2024 | 0 Comments
The Celtic Torc stands out as a fine example of ancient Irish metalwork. Ireland holds the record for the most ancient torcs discovered to date - they were a favorite of our ancient ancestors - but their design makes them tricky to take on and off! Read on to get our tips on how to (safely) put on and take off your own torc and prevent it from breaking.
An old problem
An ancient neck torc in the collection at the British museum bears a rather ostentatious repair where the item had snapped at the back. We can hypothesize that the torc broke from being repeatedly stretched and bent, possibly when being taken on and off. So it seems people today are not the only ones that had trouble putting on and taking off torcs! Their design makes this a universal problem and it is entirely possible that the wearers of ancient torcs wore them near continuously to avoid the issue altogether!
The rather ostentatious repair job on a torc that snapped at the back on display in the British Museum.
Photo Credit: The British Museum ((CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
How to wear a Celtic Torc Today
No one wants a broken torc. And unlike the Celts, wearing a piece of jewelry continuously does not always fit with modern life. So if you want to wear one of our traditional torcs, and don’t want to damage it while taking it on and off every time you fancy going for a swim, hitting the gym, or doing the dishes, we have you covered! Here is our short video on how to put on and take off a torc like a pro.
Six steps to follow putting on or taking off a torc bangle
- Turn your wrist so your thumb is pointing to the ceiling like you are going to shake someone's hand.
- Gently slide the open gap in the torc bangle halfway onto the wrist, thumb still pointing to the ceiling.
- Lightly press one end of the bangle into the soft middle of the underside of your wrist, near where you would take your pulse.
- Keeping that part of the bangle lightly pressed in place, start to rotate the bangle around this point to slide it gently on over your wrist.
- To take off, reverse these steps
- Most importantly, NEVER bend your bangle to take on and off!!
Our Torc Jewelry
Fancy a torc of your own now that you know how to wear one? We take inspiration for many of our carefully crafted pieces from these ancient designs. And inspired by the spectacular craft of the Celts, we have a range of torc bangles made in precious Gold or Sterling Silver. This intricate and ornate Sterling Silver Celtic Braid torc is a firm favorite. Combining Celtic interlace with a classic open Torc shape, this substantial torc is a striking piece that is also perfect for engraving on the inside band.
And for Irish history buffs, we have the History of Ireland Torc available in Sterling Silver and Gold. This iconic 1970s design combines the classic Celtic shape with 12 symbols that span Irish history, including the time of the Celts.
Celtic Torcs
If you're looking to emulate the prestige and status of the ancient Celts at home, we offer Celtic Torcs to suit every man or woman proud of their Irish heritage.
Get In Touch
Have a question or something you're not entirely sure about when browsing our pieces? Please reach out. You can send us a note or give us a call—the Dublin workshop is here to make sure that you have a perfect experience from start to finish with My Irish Jeweler.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, to see what's new and upcoming. Join our Email list for early offers and special features.
Ciaran
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
Comments
Ask Gemma
