Symbols of Legacy
Imagine a signet ring, or crest ring as they are also called – a bold, masterfully crafted ring displayed on the pinky of a respected lady or gentleman, adorned with a meticulously engraved family crest. Have you ever wondered how these exquisite expressions of kin came to be? We’ll take you on a journey through the ages of the signet ring, and how it became one of Uwe Koetter’s establishing pieces.
The History
Records show that limestone signets were used as long ago as 3500 BC in Mesopotamia, where cylindrical seals were used to authenticate documents and mark ownership, beginning a centuries’ long tradition.
By the Middle Ages, signet rings had become an essential accessory for anyone of significance. In fact, in 14th century England, King Edward II decreed that all official documents must be sealed with the King’s signet ring to ensure authenticity. To prevent forgery and misrepresentation on a kingdom-wide scale, these rings had intricate designs that were difficult to tamper with or reproduce. Often, as a final measure, the rings were often destroyed upon the owner’s death.
Around this time in history, signet rings were commonly worn on the pinky finger of the non-dominant hand and doubled as a status of nobility and importance. Aristocrats, Kings and noblemen would frequently stack multiple signet rings to flaunt their wealth and status, since each signet ring was seen as a one-of-kind jewellery piece.
Uwe Koetter and Signet Rings
We have proudly designed and made signet rings since the inception of our company, however, they have seen a surge in popularity over the past few decades. Signet rings have even seen a surge in popularity with women since Princess Diana sported one in 1988. Whatever the reason is for their newfound popularity, we’re proud to be part of this enduring tradition.
Since we are first and foremost a bespoke jewellery manufacturer, signet rings are right up our alley as they generally are uniquely designed to fit their wearer’s taste, heritage and personality. With our expert CAD designers on-site, we are able to design intricate crests and optimise the design to suit the small surface of a signet ring. We generally make the rings out of gold or silver but also experiment with enamel and ceramic inlays to help emphasise the crest even more.
Take a peek at this exquisite crest ring, created by Uwe Koetter Jewellers for a special 30th birthday. This thoughtful piece features a family crest intricately finished in gold and black ceramic. Over the past several years, we have been experimenting more and more with enamel and ceramic inlays, which help to emphasise the family crest even more.
More recently, we’ve seen a growing trend of men and women opting to wear signet rings as their wedding bands to further signify their family ties. We’ve also noticed an interesting trend of some men choosing to have a signet ring made with a diamond in the center as their wedding ring, instead of the traditional, more simplistic men’s wedding band.
Although fairly uncommon, we have experimented with alternative crest jewellery, which resulted in the unique crest pendant you see below. If rings aren’t your thing but you still feel that desire to immortalise your family’s heritage, we’ll help you create a truly one-of-a-kind piece.
