One of the most popular Baltic jewelry is the Namejs Ring.
The ring represents independence, friendship, and trust, and is a symbol of the unity of the three ancient Latvian lands – Kurzeme, Latgale, and Vidzeme.
It is often believed that the ring should only be worn by men, as it is considered a warrior’s ring. The ring was intended for boys entering manhood. Fathers gave this ring to their sons on their coming-of-age day, and this was the only way to receive it. Therefore, it also symbolized close family ties and the importance of unity.

The design and customs associated with it originated in the ancient Latgalian lands, which are the easternmost of Latvia’s four historical regions. The ring is known to have been first made in the 12th century.

There is an ancient legend associated with the ring.
According to it, Namejs was one of the last warriors to fight against the German crusader invasion of Latvian territory. He fled into exile in Lithuania, but as a parting gift, he gave his son a twisted metal ring so that he could recognize him upon his return. Namejs’s son was endangered when the Germans discovered the ring’s secret. They set out to find Namejs’s son, trying to force him to surrender. It is said that almost all Semigallian boys and men made similar rings and wore them to protect the boy’s identity.

However, archaeologists have found rings primarily in the ancient Latgalian lands and believe that Namejs could not have had any connection with the ring.

The ring’s popularity and name were fueled by the novel “The Ring of Namejs” by the writer A. Grins (written in 1928) and the portrait of Namejs by the artist L. Libertas, which was a figment of his imagination.

The Namejs ring is a rare archaeological find. It was determined that this was a very expensive item in the 12th century, as it was primarily made of silver and the manufacturing process was long and complex. However, bronze jewelry has also been found in archaeological excavations.

The classic Naimes ring consists of three main bands woven around each other, often complemented by a thinner cord.