While now a fashionable piece of jewellery, signet rings were once considered a sign of wealth and importance. Emblazoned with a family crest, initials or some other representative feature, signet rings were even once used to seal correspondence. Today, they still hold an air of elegance and prestige, but they are more easily available than in years gone by.
As we mentioned, signet rings were once worn primarily by the nobility. They would dip the top of the ring in wax or similar and use it to seal letters. It was a sign of importance and confirmed authenticity. Today, the signet ring still holds great importance.
Many clubs or associations reward people with signet rings for years of service or other memorable achievements. It’s a sign of respect for the commitment someone has shown to an organisation. In addition, many members of the military wear signet rings too. Usually, they feature details representing the branch they served with.
Can anybody get a signet ring?
While some purists might argue, we believe the answer is a resounding “Yes!”. We’ve long since moved on from the times when a signet ring could only be obtained through wealth and nobility. However, we should add a disclaimer here. Wearing a specific signet ring that you haven’t ‘earned’ can be considered very disrespectful. For example, wearing a military ring without serving.
However, you can have custom signet rings made in any style you like. You could include your own initials, or even a family crest. If you don’t have a family crest, you can design one. The rules are a lot less strict these days, so there’s always an opportunity to wear a signet ring.
What designs can you choose from?
The traditional signet ring design is usually a metal ring, generally a bit thicker and more obvious to the eye than a normal wedding band, for example. Most feature a flat stone on top that can be engraved, but this isn’t a requirement You can even keep the top section just as metal if you don’t want a stone.
Either way, signet rings are typically engraved in some manner. Whether it’s a family crest, your initials or some other logo, they’re designed to mean something. As far as shapes go, the choice is yours. Some are round, octagonal, hexagonal, or square – it all depends on personal preference.
As for stones, there are no hard and fast rules here either. Most importantly, it should be something that you love. The engraving is important though, and you can choose to have a raised symbol or not.
Looking for custom signet rings?
If you love the idea of having your very own signet ring, Catanach’s Jewellers is here to help. Our master jewellers can work closely with you on custom ring designs. This way, you can have a meaningful signet ring of your own, and perhaps even turn it into an heirloom. Contact us today to find out more about bespoke jewellery.
Signet Rings: What You Need to Know
While now a fashionable piece of jewellery, signet rings were once considered a sign of wealth and importance. Emblazoned with a family crest, initials or some other representative feature, signet rings were even once used to seal correspondence. Today, they still hold an air of elegance and prestige, but they are more easily available than in years gone by.
Here’s what you should know about signet rings.
A sign of respect
As we mentioned, signet rings were once worn primarily by the nobility. They would dip the top of the ring in wax or similar and use it to seal letters. It was a sign of importance and confirmed authenticity. Today, the signet ring still holds great importance.
Many clubs or associations reward people with signet rings for years of service or other memorable achievements. It’s a sign of respect for the commitment someone has shown to an organisation. In addition, many members of the military wear signet rings too. Usually, they feature details representing the branch they served with.
Can anybody get a signet ring?
While some purists might argue, we believe the answer is a resounding “Yes!”. We’ve long since moved on from the times when a signet ring could only be obtained through wealth and nobility. However, we should add a disclaimer here. Wearing a specific signet ring that you haven’t ‘earned’ can be considered very disrespectful. For example, wearing a military ring without serving.
However, you can have custom signet rings made in any style you like. You could include your own initials, or even a family crest. If you don’t have a family crest, you can design one. The rules are a lot less strict these days, so there’s always an opportunity to wear a signet ring.
What designs can you choose from?
The traditional signet ring design is usually a metal ring, generally a bit thicker and more obvious to the eye than a normal wedding band, for example. Most feature a flat stone on top that can be engraved, but this isn’t a requirement You can even keep the top section just as metal if you don’t want a stone.
Either way, signet rings are typically engraved in some manner. Whether it’s a family crest, your initials or some other logo, they’re designed to mean something. As far as shapes go, the choice is yours. Some are round, octagonal, hexagonal, or square – it all depends on personal preference.
As for stones, there are no hard and fast rules here either. Most importantly, it should be something that you love. The engraving is important though, and you can choose to have a raised symbol or not.
Looking for custom signet rings?
If you love the idea of having your very own signet ring, Catanach’s Jewellers is here to help. Our master jewellers can work closely with you on custom ring designs. This way, you can have a meaningful signet ring of your own, and perhaps even turn it into an heirloom. Contact us today to find out more about bespoke jewellery.