Tradition also states that a signet ring is to be worn on the little finger of a hand, not in the dominant position, so this is usually worn on your left hand, but you may choose to wear it on the right if you are a left-handed person.
Signet rings are traditionally worn on the little finger of a man’s non-dominant hand. This is done because signet rings were often used to mark soft materials on formal documents, and the aforementioned location happens to be the most convenient when using a signet ring for its intended purpose.
Many people prefer to wear a signet ring on the pinkie of the non-dominant hand, so if you are right-handed, a pinky signet ring goes on the left pinkie. In France, men traditionally wear a signet ring on the right finger of their left hand, while in Switzerland, men wear the signet ring on their right hand.
Other than this, there is no tradition or particular meaning in wearing the ring on any other finger (except on the left ring finger — this is done to get married). For instance, I have worn my wedding bands on my left ring finger, directly beside my pinky, and then not worn rings beside that. Some guys may have their wedding band that they have to wear on their left ring finger, but beyond that, guys tend not to wear many different rings.
Other Rings May Overrule the Signet
You might not want to pick your wedding finger if you are married; most women keep the wedding ring finger reserved for the bride’s finger. Even if you are not married, wearing the ring on the left hand will often be an indication of marriage, so take it with a grain of salt.
Suppose a ring is worn on your left ring finger. In that case, it can be interpreted as a wedding ring, which, if a person is unmarried, can potentially turn off potential connections and can also impact a wearer’s reputation. For men who are not married, wearing it on your ring finger in the U.S. can limit your options when trying to get into court since the ring can be misinterpreted as a wedding band, leading to their thinking badly of you and affecting your reputation in negative ways.
Placing additional rings above a signet or wearing rings on your nearby fingers can overwhelm your hands and make you appear slightly over-blinged. If you are married, wearing rings on each of your fingers would prevent you from overcrowding a single hand with an overabundance of calls.
Remember, wearing rings on your first finger is also a powerful statement. Wearing an emblem ring on your first or middle finger is seen as breaking from tradition but is also the ultimate self-expression, and it is the ring-wearers choice to wear the curl depending on what occasion they are dressing up for, as well as their mood. Wearing a signet ring on your middle finger may also help to call attention to the piece since it is usually not hidden from the rest of the fingers when worn this way.
The Purpose of Signet Rings
Signet is derived from the word “sign,” so you can consider this ring style to be a signet ring, showing adherence to a cause, belief, or tradition. You can take that concept of being an individual by choosing to break the rules and wear a signet ring on either your ring finger, index finger, or middle finger, depending on the dress, mood, or occasion.
The critical thing to remember is that, whether you are a traditionalist or would instead choose a more modern approach to the piece, there are many options to dress up your signet ring in ways that fit your style.
Whether looking at alternative wedding rings or simply a statement accessory with style history, you cannot go wrong here. Whether you are going for more of a traditional choice, or something more personalized, it is about the ring at hand. Whether you choose to opt for brass, steel, or copper — leaving the ring signet ring blank for a more contemporary look or engraving it with your crest or marks — our pieces let you dress your ring up or down, trying out both modern and more traditional ways of wearing.
The Enduring Meaning of a Signet Ring
The signet ring is considered a significant piece representing authenticity, strength, and individuality. In a modern world, authenticity will be made absolute with you being able to wear a signet ring on whatever other finger you want, to be able to express your personality. For centuries, these rings were destroyed when their owners passed away because noblemen wore them; they were uncopied and considered highly valuable. Thus, their name, the signet, is the little seal used to represent legal or official purposes.
The main reason the signet ring was worn on the pinky was that the call was a potent symbol of the power the bearer had, of their personality, or belonging to a particular family; it was also seen as a symbol of the bearer’s truthfulness. Traditionally, the signet ring was worn on the pinky, usually by gentlemen who would wear the ring as a seal on essential documents. Most of these gentlemen were involved in business and politics, and having a seal on the pinky made it easier to authenticate important documents.
In Britain, our signet ring is traditionally worn on the pinky left (a la Prince Charles), but Churchill wears him on the right ring finger – so go ahead. A bold, blinged-out ring is a statement piece, which is why he wears one on his most daring digit.
When you wear a ring on the pinky, that means that you are affiliated with the organization or club that wore the ring. To observers, wearing your call on your pinky rings sends a message that you are part of the group or affiliated with some association. If you have an association, a crew from the chapter, or a ring from a different organization (think Elks Club, Shriners, Masons), then a chapter goes on the pinky. A sigil ring on the pinky is an excellent display of your personality and truthfulness.
