Signet rings have become an integral way of self-expression, presenting an individual style and quite the statement if you wear one. They can tell a lot about a person, and many people have obtained them as family heirlooms passed down through decades.

My cousin Thomas owns one such ring that has the letter ‘T’ engraved into a black onyx stone. This was passed down to him from his father Thomas, whom was gifted it from another Thomas, not of relative blood. This got me thinking about the history of the signet ring and its origins.

Signet rings may look beautiful and intricately designed but in fact the signet ring used to be an important cultural item of jewellery and has played a surprisingly significant role in history.

The signet ring originated from a cylindrical seal and was used as long ago as 3500BC! Originally signet rings were inscribed with a family crest and they would frequently be used to stamp, or sign a document. The metal shapes would leave a permanent mark in any soft wax and this would be placed onto a variety of legal documents. They we’re used as a signature and I’m sure like me, you have seen wax securely seal a letter in many films. Some of the most important documents in history have been stamped with a signet ring. In its day the stamp of a ring was seen as more authentic than a signature.

Historically it was normal for the most influential people in the world to have these rings and use them to confirm the authenticity of any document. These rings look magnificent but they were designed with a very practical purpose in mind.

A Mesopotamian limestone cylinder seal and impression

By the time of the ancient Egyptians the seal had become attached to a ring and Pharaohs and other important people of the day would wear them to show their position.

Egyptian King Tut-E’s signet ring on show at the Louvre

At the beginning of the Minoan period most rings were formed from soft stones or ivory but by the end of this period they were created from harder stones. The bronze age saw a shift to metal rings and they took on their current day appearance. There was even a period when they were considered an art form and many people had collections of them.

By the Middle Ages, any person of influence had a signet ring. This included all the nobility and they were used to sign all letters and legal documents. In fact, in the fourteenth century King Edward II decreed that all official documents must be signed with the King’s signet ring.

The majority of rings dating from these periods were destroyed when their owner died. This is because they were unique and it avoided any possibility of forged documents appearing after a nobleman’s death. Having a ring during this period marked you as a member of the highest class and above other, common men.

The nineteenth century saw many rings become more ornate as precious and semi-precious jewels were added to these rings. They were always made of silver or gold.

Every ring was unique, the markings usually included the family crest but there would always be a significant mark which personally identified the ring holder. Some of the rings were simple icons which were associated with the most important families. All rings were reverse engineered to ensure that the design read the correct way when they were stamped on a document. So like a mirror reflection. Of course, this level of detail also ensured the rings were expensive and very difficult to copy.

It has become tradition for many organisations to wear rings; class rings or biker gangs are two examples. In wealthy families, the head of the family wears an imposing signet, which they will pass on to their heir.

Finrezio Celtic knot two piece biker signet ring

In today’s world, with a population of just under 8 billion people it would be nearly impossible to guarantee a unique crest to one family to ensure the safety of documents etc. There are still a few people who commission their own signet rings although these are never be used legally mark a document anymore. This does not mean that a signet ring cannot be made personal to you. The signet ring’s role has simply changed, becoming an expression of our identity, instead of a security password.

It was great talking to Thomas and really figuring out what his signet ring meant to him. Ever since he was a child he valued the meaning of it and the shared identity he has with holding the same name as his father. I see Thomas as merely the keeper of his signet ring: he will add his story and sentiment to the ring while in his possession and one day pass it on to someone else so they can add theirs and continue this wonderful journey through the ages for this ring!

Ref: thehistorypress.co.uk

The signet ring and its journey through history