For thousands of years, signet rings have meant just a little bit more than your typical metal band. Used historically as an alternative to a signature (get it, signet), a signet ring may have more of a decorative function nowadays, worn with a gold or silver chain, say, but it still remains a symbol of pride for those who wear one, whether or not the flat face has been adorned with a family crest or cursive monogram.
Today, anyone can–and should—wear a signet ring. First, because the heavier weight and historic affiliations add some undeniable heft and gravitas to any outfit. And second, because there are frankly a ton of great ones on the market.
The one thing to know is that signet rings are traditionally worn on the pinky finger of your least dominant hand, so if you want to stick to the quote-unquote “rules,” then we suggest finding a smaller, oval faced signet that will slip on with subtle ease. If however, you agree that rules exist to be tested, then your options really are wide open—and we’ve pulled together a few favorites for every viewpoint below.
The Best Signet Rings Hit List
In This Shopping Guide
Plain Signet Rings
A plain, single-tone signet ring is as classic as it gets, and lets the style of the ring do the talking. A shinier one may not have much personalization to start, but just you wait: the scratches or marks will come over time, and that’s a good thing—you’ll grow to love each scuff. For a more lived-in feeling from the outset, a signet that has a brushed surface should be your go-to, as the matte finish will catch the light far less.
Bejeweled Signet Rings
Chances are, if you like the bulk of a signet ring, you also would quite like to have some gems shining from it. Thankfully, you can find all manner of styles—from ones that have a large, singular stone covering the whole face of the ring, to more delicate settings with smaller diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds—basically anything that you’d dig out of a pirate hoard.
Engraved Signet Rings
Signet rings were designed to be engraved, so welcome to the purist’s corner. You can, of course, always engrave your own blank face, but when there’s a whole world out there of playful motifs and statement designs from brilliant designers, do you really want to go to the trouble?
Signet Rings FAQ
What do signet rings signify?
Signet rings were originally used to signify an allegiance to a family, fraternity, or higher socioeconomic class and, as a result, were pretty exclusive. Today, they’re free game for anyone in the market for small adornments, whether you’re well-connected or not. Which is great news for the guy who wants to feel like a king but lacks the, uh, required bloodline.
Where’s the best place to wear a signet ring?
Traditionally, signet rings are worn on the pinky finger but you can wear them anywhere. We personally like a pinky, index or ring finger, but would probably skip the thumb.
What’s the best material for signet rings?
With so many variations on the market, it can be hard to know which material is best. Our advice?Stick to precious metals like solid gold and silver, and steel. They hold up nicely with daily wear and tear and won’t tarnish as easily. If a solid, gold ring is out of the budget, gold vermeil (gold-plated jewelry that uses sterling silver as the base) is also a great alternative.
What is sterling silver 925?
Much like gold has multiple degrees of purity (9, 18 and 24 karat for example), so too does silver. The ‘925’ refers directly to the percentage (92.5%) of actual silver element contained in the metals alloy. This remaining 7.5% is most often taken up by harder elements like copper, which bolster silver’s relatively softer composition, giving a stronger and longer lasting piece of jewelry.
What are the different types of gold?
Gold is classified in karats. This essentially measures the purity of the metal, and how much actual gold element is in the alloy. A lower score isn’t necessarily bad: 9k gold is the most common lower karat— it contains around 40% of gold in the alloy—but this makes it the most durable composition-wise, as higher-karat gold is a very soft metal by comparison. 14k and 18k contain 58% and 75% respectively, with the durability decreasing with each increase in gold percentage. The highest purity you can find is 24k, which is 99.9% pure gold—with that comes the obvious price tag, and the respective softness too.
How do you keep a silver ring clean?
Silver will naturally oxidise and tarnish over time, giving your shiny piece of jewelry a slightly darker patina (which in all honestly often looks great). Still, some simple ways of maintaining the shine of your silver jewelry would be to use a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar and water, either soaking or gently polishing your pieces with a cloth soaked in the solution. Another way is to utilise a quirk of chemistry; line a bowl with aluminum foil, and then add boiling water and baking soda. Leave your jewelry in the bowl for around 3 minutes and then remove, shiny and new. Failing all that, leave it in a bowl of Coca Cola for five minutes. Seriously, it works.
How do you keep gold clean?
Over time, gold plated items over time will show signs of wear, particularly in high friction areas like the back of the neck. This is due to the plating being a very thin layer of gold over a more durable and inexpensive metal, often sterling silver. It’s best to take off any plated items before showering to avoid exacerbating this wearing process with water/chemicals.
The easiest way to clean your gold jewelry is in warm water, with a small amount of mild detergent or baby shampoo. You want to avoid using any chemicals like chlorine or soaps, as this can dull the metal. Polish with a dry cloth to buff out any dirt, and store in a dark place, like the cloth bag that you’ll usually find comes with your piece.
