Pinkys up rings on

Pinky’s up rings on.

The history and importance of the signet ring even in modern day Britain in film and culture.

My gold ring reminds me of my mother, who received a similar ring on her 18th birthday as a present for becoming a woman. I was a little child, looking up to her and putting this ring on with a wedding ring. She became more glamorous and sophisticated and felt empowered. The idea of jewellery being handed down by all the women in the family and dressing up in our mother's jewellery in hopes of receiving it when we are grown up. The passing down of the signet ring was a symbol of entering adulthood and those senior family members honouring you with that title, from a girl putting on her mother's or grandma's rings, which were so significant to fit them like a glove years later. 

From a sign of purity to entering women's hood, the passing of the guard of the family legacy continues; whether it is your family crest or your initials, these rings all have different meanings and a rich history.

Originating from the Latin word “signum”, meaning “sign”, signet rings originated amongst religious leaders and Pharaohs. These rings were used to mark and seal documents by pressing the face, historically marked with a unique family crest, into hot wax.

 These rings were a legal document, crucial in showering history and being more authentic than a signature on paper. Those who wore it confirmed the authenticity of any documents with their personal details and family crests. It helped to identify people with the monograms or icons. Due to the engineering skills needed for the detailed designs, these rings were expensive and a sign of someone’s wealth. It is not what’s on the significant ring but also where it is on the person's hand. Most of the time, it is on the wearer's least dominant hand, specifically on the pinky finger of that hand, which has been drenched in history. However, as the world has progressed and changed, so has the signet ring more worn by men. The 1970s-80s changed that perspective forever. The ring was just for men. The fashion trailblazer, the late Princess Diana, was often seen with a signet ring on her left hand and pinky finger on their non-dominant hand, the same as the male line before they wore them. This development grew into the exclusivity of signet rings for the rich and powerful, which was destroyed, and more so now, it's for stylistic reasons. Still, the same designs are used because there's less enthusiasm for gender or it is a legal document, merely a family heirloom, but quintessentially British.  

A signet ring has always connected significantly with the autocracy of England. This is reflected in modern intervention through film and shows, not just in The Crown but From Antony Bridgeton in the Bridgeton Netflix series. Season 2 sees Anthony Bridgerton’s style incorporating more royal colours, such as blue and emerald green, and his staple gold and champagne.

Dexter’s signet ring in another Netflix original “has meaning as“it was important to us that his privilege was a little more understated in the series,” says Molly Manners, to British GQ the show's lead director. “Little touches like the signet ring do an excellent job of communicating it subtly. It might just catch your eye sometimes.” Emma Rees also to British GQ, the show’s costume designer, saw it as a reflection of Dexter’s changing relationship with his mother. “We thought that a vintage silver crest ring communicated his status a little more quietly than gold, and [we] imagined that his mother had a quiet hand in choosing it with him. Engraved with his initials, he wears it to consistently guide him through troubled times as a link to his mum.”

To King Charles himself, the signet ring shows stature and Repositioning in society, reminding you of the moist smell of stately homes across the country. A signet ring is eye-catching, especially on the pinky, and the gold reflects on the sunlight and sparkles like a jewel. I am creating an image of a preppy old money style.

So if you associate signet rings original from your mother's jewellery box and your dressing up antics with your friends. Or with the royal family and the old English aristocracy. Maybe even through your TV screens or on your favourite celebrities, though the reasoning for Signet rings are no longer relevant in today's society; they are a staple accessory that is accessible to all and has a multitude of intricate designs to boot.