Signet Rings have a long and colourful history, dating back as far as the ancient Egyptian period. For a time in the Middle Ages, Signet Rings were considered a form of identification. It wasn’t until modern times that Signet Rings took on new uses, becoming heraldic and class symbols. But now, Signet Rings are becoming more and more popular in the jewellery world, which is famous for its fashion, and many jewellers are starting to use pneumatic engraver to engrave Signet Rings.
With a wide range of Signet Ring styles now available in the jewellery world, you can choose a Signet Ring that better reflects your individuality and taste. Next, let’s explore some of the ways you can choose and wear a Signet Ring, and we hope that after reading this article, you will be able to help you in your search for a Signet Ring.
The period when Signet Rings were first worn
Signet Ring have a long and illustrious history, and it was only in the 1780s that it was established that the word “signet” actually existed. According to historians, it originated from the French medieval Latin word “signum”, meaning “signature” or “sign”. But the origin of the seal is much older, dating back to the Pharaonic period in 1800 BC. The most common Signet Ring at that time was the sacred beetle. The back of these rings with the sacred beetle was usually engraved with hieroglyphics to identify its owner.
The Romans began to popularise the wearing of symbolic rings in 500 B.C. These rings were at first made of iron, and later, gold was also used to make them.
Signet Rings used as amulets usually had symbols or family crests engraved on them. When people wanted to predict the feasibility of something they were about to do, they would throw these Signet Rings together and then randomly select a ring to make a prediction by the meaning of the symbols on it.
When Hannibal first wiped out all the Romans, the soldiers were ordered to collect the Signet Rings from all the Roman corpses and use them to prove that they had won the war.
At first, in the Roman Empire, Signet Rings were only worn as a badge of honour by soldiers who had won a war, but later, other Romans were allowed to wear Signet Rings to prove they had wealth and social status, while free men were only allowed to wear silver Signet Rings.
The Meaning of Wearing a Signet Ring
Signet Rings have been around for centuries and have been used by royalty, politicians and merchants as a way of proving their power, rank or identifying the ownership of their documents.
In modern times, Signet Rings come in a wide range of styles, materials and designs. People usually wear them as decoration without a practical function.
People wear Signet Rings for many reasons, some as a way of honouring a special person or event, others as a proof of nobility. Whatever the reason, if you want to add some sparkle to your jewellery box, buying the right Signet Ring is definitely a good option.
Significance of wearing Signet Rings on different fingers
Signet Rings are traditionally worn facing inwards, in order to make it impossible for enemies to see your insignia, and on the little finger of the non-dominant hand. The average person’s non-dominant hand is their left hand, and Winston Churchill was known to be a lefty, so he used to wear his Signet Ring on the little finger of his right hand.
Etiquette-wise, women should save their left hand for the wedding ring. This is because of an old custom that if a woman wore a Signet Ring on her left hand, it meant that they already had a husband; if they wore it on their right hand, it meant that they were still single. Because this custom has been passed down from generation to generation, it is implicitly followed in modern times.
But whatever the tradition, the way you wear your Signet Ring is still based on your personal preference and comfort.
How to Choose the Perfect Signet Ring
Are you ready to wear a Signet Ring? Whether you want to get a feel for what it was like when ancient dynasties wore Signet Rings or simply want to try something new and trendy, choosing a Signet Ring won’t be a decision you’ll regret.
As the use of Signet Rings becomes more widespread and traditional restrictions are lifted, the way you wear your Signet Ring and the style you choose to wear it will be entirely up to you.
Whether you are looking for a unique style or a classic style, the first thing to consider is the quality of the ring. Because with a high quality ring, no matter which finger you wear it on, it will stand out from the crowd.
