What Is the Purpose of a Signet Ring?


A signet ring is a design that houses an elevated, flatted face in the sleeve, or call, usually inscribed with a picture or icon meant to represent something memorable — such as an individual’s initials, a family crest, coat of arms, or meaningful symbol. Originally, signet rings were decorated with family crests, and they were often used for printing, or signing, documents.

Signet rings were initially used to stamp official documents to assure the receiver that they were authentic, and the rings bore their owner’s make r family crest for this purpose. However, with the decline of paper communications, the signet ring lost its original purpose and is now a vanity item.

Traditionally, these rings were engraved with the family crest or royal symbol and used to seal formal documents or signify one’s status. The most common calls were initials and monograms, while more entitled men would wear rings decorated with their official coats of arms or family crests.

Noblemen Used Signets of Their Family Crests

Royals and nobles would have their family crest, coat of arms, or some other design that was uniquely theirs inscribed onto the ring, acting as their signature on essential documents. Used as a seal, the gentlemen would use his crew, which bore their unique family crest, badge, or monogram, to seal important documents.

Signets, meaning little seals, were initially worn by men wearing rings bearing their family crests. Initially, men used signet rings as seals to verify signatures on important documents, contracts, and letters, but nowadays, many wear signet rings as an exciting accessory.

A signet ring is typically used for sealing essential documents, letters, and documents among those at the top levels of society. Traditionally, the signet ring was worn on the pinky finger and was used by gentlemen, especially those involved in business or politics, as the signature for signing important documents.

The term signet ring comes from the French word signet (small seal) and signature, which means a signature in Latin, but signet rings are also known as signet rings and pinky rings (from pink, a Dutch word that means little finger) when worn on the pinky. A signet ring is distinguished from other rings by a carved or raised symbol, series of words or letters, or picture in the top half of the ring, which is somehow representative of the bearer.

The Heirloom Value of a Signet Ring

Considered to be valuable heirlooms, signet rings are seen as extremely valuable, often used by influential individuals for signatures on documents or as evidence that one belongs to a clear/powerful family or dynasty. Although no longer used for marking, signet rings can still serve as a mark of membership, an effortless way of identifying membership to a family, club, society, or organization by the flash of gold or silver.

Today, you will find that many mothers, sisters, and lovers wear a signet ring as a sign of the personalities many mothers have, as a tribute to family and loved ones, or as a reminder of a time or promise made to that special someone.

We selected some of our favorite gold rings and silver rings that are signet-style. Whether you choose brass, steel, or copper–leave the signet ring blank for a more contemporary look, or etch your crest or marks into it–our selection allows you to dress your ring up or down, experimenting with both modern and more classic ways of wearing. While you may still find a chunky, family-crest-adorned ring, you are equally likely to find one that is light, subtle, and custom-made to your tastes.

Signet Rings Have Expanded for Popular Use

Whether or not you have a family crest, you can get anything you like engraved on your ring. While many opt to engrave their rings with their initials, small designs, or something sentimental, this is not necessary; they are equally as beautiful left blank.

Often, a signet ring has a flat bezel, and the design is intaglio-engraved, meaning that it is raised and may leave a mark when struck against wax or another soft material. While these two traits must be present for a ring to qualify as a signet, the determination of the design, the size, and the shape will depend on your personal preferences and style.

A signet ring will have the crest of a family inscribed onto its face to intaglio, creating a wax seal used to announce a royalty, a legal document, or authenticate correspondence. The document recipient would know it was authentic due to the symbol on the wax. Signet rings went by several names, including the seal ring, due to its function to seal letters, and the gentleman ring, due to it being worn frequently by male heirs in a family.

For centuries, rings were destroyed when their owners passed away because they were worn by nobility, were uncopied, and considered highly valuable. Thus their name, the signet, is translated as the little seal used for legal or official purposes.

By the time of ancient Egypt, seals had become attached to a ring, and Pharaohs and other notables at that time wore these to indicate their status. Egyptians began engraving the symbols onto rings worn by the Pharaohs and other prominent men to represent their position. With the Kings signature being the world’s most valuable, all men considered their calls an essential artifact.

These engravings on the seals were used throughout history, pushed into the melting wax on important documents, which left a print of the bearer’s crest. The shape of metal would leave a permanent imprint on any soft wax or clay and be placed onto various legal documents. We know the practical elements of the signet ring have been lost–indeed, this is the reason family crests are generally not inscribed in a signet as a mirrored image anymore–but there is still some glamour, not to mention cachet, that comes with sliding a signet onto your finger.

Gene Botkin

Hello, I'm Gene. My family belonged to the aristocracy of Old Russia, and I created this site to re-establish a familial connection with them. My aims are to generate interest in aristocratic virtues, such as beauty, honor, and loyalty, and to spread Russian culture.

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