What are these symbols? (Oriental jewelry)

[RT]

If you don't mind, I'd like to ask the board's take on these symbols.

The wife has asked me to find out what these characters on her ring and necklace mean or represent.
We've spent the whole day in the hospital getting some tests run and quite a few Drs, techs and nurses have asked about the meaning of the symbols (and would you please remove those before entering the room...) perhaps they were just being nice, but they didn't profess to know the meaning.

I have no clue how to search for these with Google, unless I go "hunt and peck" thru thousands of images...

So, I thought I'd take a shot here for some suggestions as to where to go to start my search, or perhaps these may be commonly known to some of you.

Of course I could invent an amazing, startling and heart throbbing epic story as to the origin of these runes, but I'm not much of a story teller.

here they are, I just put them on the scanner bed:

<img src= "http://forums.techguy.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=683614 ">

 

[RT]

And the other

<img src= "http://forums.techguy.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=683618 ">

These may be upside down or sideways

 

[eggplant43]

I found the second symbol here:

http://antiques.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.masonkay.com/chinesechartacter.htm

It is the Chinese symbol for Longevity. I'm still looking for the other.

 

[valley]

Originally posted by eggplant43:
I found the second symbol here:

now thats service!!! Great job eggplant!

 

[RT]

And service with a smile, Valley!

Thanks, Bruce, that looks very much like it.

I wish you the spirit of the "second symbol",

and most likely I'll wish you the spirit of the first!

(but right now I'll wish for "Double Happiness" for all!)[

 

[eggplant43]

Sorry, but so far I haven't been able to find the first symbol yet. I've got one more idea, so I'll keep trying.

 

[angelize56]

Bruce: Are they Japanese? If so there are pictures of all the symbols and their meanings <a href="http://www.valutel.co.za/oplogosjap.asp"> here</a>. Take care. angel

 

[plschwartz]

Both symbols are long life just a variation in the iconography.