The Evolution of Style: The Story of Signet Rings

By Brittany Childress


The history of military signet rings dates back at least to the Augustan period in Rome. The Romans probably got it from the Spartan warriors. Most of the Roman signet rings reflect Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, and Oriental influences. A sign of honor, signet rings were often massive, making it difficult to wear them. Rings denoted one's social standing. It was considered a privilege to wear a signet ring, but it was often reserved for those who served with distinction in the military. Eventually, this type of ring would be bestowed more freely, but still was a mark of dignity and often used as an important seal.

In the Middle Ages, a man's ring was often engraved with the wearer's family coat of arms, and modern signet rings are designed to showcase the simplified modern day equivalent that serves the same purpose: the monogram. Mens white gold signet rings in more recent times have become a traditional gift for sons and other male relatives as eighteenth birthday gifts, or to present upon high school or college graduation.

White gold is quickly replacing yellow gold as the preferred metal for mens wedding bands, as the cooler tones of white gold is often better suited to masculine designs and several metals in pale, silvery colors are used in many other accessories for men like cuff links and watches. A signet ring also sets these off nicely. White gold signet rings for men were inspired by practices dating back thousands of years, but the many styles of mens white gold signet rings sold available today are decidedly modern.

The signet ring's original purposes of indicating rank and imprinting seals on important letters are no longer concerns in the modern western world, but the beauty of signet rings and their interesting background have kept them alive as stylish fashion accessories for men and women. Signet rings are rings worn by individuals bearing an initial, monogram, or other image to denote the identity and, long ago, the social or noble status of the wearer.

The most common types of signet rings currently worn are made from white or yellow gold and engraved with the initials or simply the first letter of the wearer's first name. They are becoming popular as wedding bands for women and men, and a white gold signet ring is also an excellent choice for modern women interested in the empowering contemporary trend of right hand rings, because nothing says individuality more than your own monogram or first initial on a beautiful, personalized 14k signet ring of your choosing.




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