Although a family crest or a coat of arms makes for a fine signet ring design, not everyone can call on such things to engrave onto a ring, or if you do come from a family with such a tradition, you may not wish to display it on your hand. As we have mentioned in our Ultimate Guide, although signet rings were for centuries the mark of a gentleman, they have been around far longer than heraldry has and in contemporary times, as fashion and tastes relax and democratize, people are becoming more creative with what they wear on their fingers. Here are some ideas:
The mark of a relationship…
Many customers who come to Rebus to create a signet ring do so for their wedding day. As one of our master engravers discusses in an interview, some of the more interesting jobs he has taken on include the depiction of a relationship (this is no mean feat given the miniature size of a ring face). But, whether you want mountain peaks and wolves – like the gentleman in question – or something a little simpler (an animal or religious symbol), there is nothing more permanent and classic than saying it on a signet ring.
To signify a friendship…
Around 60% of Rebus customers buy signet rings as presents. Once you have done the groundwork and ascertained the recipient’s finger size (see our sizing guide), why not surprise them with the engraving? Simply decide what best signifies your friendship, and we can create something bespoke and unique to you. If they have a family crest or you would like a monogram engraving, you can search by family name or by initials in the Crest and Monogram database on our website. Is it a memory? A symbol from your travels? Or perhaps a sequence of numbers only your friend will understand. Be creative.
To mark a special day…
Many of the requests we get at Rebus are for 18th and 21st birthday presents, and as we mentioned in our Ultimate Guide, some also decide that a signet ring is the perfect way to mark a graduation - many have their university crest engraved on their ring. Whatever the day you want to commemorate, there’s a personal emblem or design to celebrate it.
To represent something meaningful to you…
Are you a fan of a certain band or artist? Maybe an evocative line from a song. Do you have a favourite animal? How about a particular constellation or star sign? Our engravers can work with just about anything you bring into the workshop. Gather some images and ideas together and with the help of our artists, we can create something personal to you.
Still unsure?
A Californian bear, a hummingbird, a whale, the rose of Yorkshire, a scorpion …a strange collection of things, out of context, we’d agree. But when you visit our Instagram page @rebussignetrings, look at our feed and explore #engraveyourstory, you’ll see that they are personal symbols that make for beautiful signet ring engravings, and represent something truly unique to their wearer.
