Bruno Mars and Cara Delevingne wear them. And now Gwyneth Paltrow is sporting a large one with fiancée Brad Falchuk’s initials on it. The traditional signet ring is cool again, and customers are all over it. Historically, signet rings were worn by men on their pinky fingers and featured a family crest that could be stamped in wax to sign documents. They are a symbol of power, seen on the likes of the late fashion designer Gianni Versace, popes, and even gangsters. Prince Charles, for example, is rarely seen without his famous signet ring with the royal insignia.
Today, however, signet rings are meant for both men and women and usually feature a flat face that can be engraved with initials, images of a lion or a unicorn, say, or adorned with small diamonds or other colored stones. Lately, women are wearing the signet ring as a gesture of gender neutrality with a masculine twist—kind of like wearing your boyfriend’s white-collar button-down—and are striking a particularly appealing look. As Paul Schneider, owner of Twist and Twistonline, recently told me, “It’s a sexy, cool look.”
The best part of the signet ring, particularly these days when customers are clamoring for unique, one-of-a-kind designs, is its ability to be personalized. You can’t ask for a better canvas than the signet ring for initials, symbols, and stones.
Ahead of next month’s JCK Las Vegas show, we thought we’d show a handful of today’s best-selling signet rings and their modern designs.
Retrouvaí Mother of Pearl Compass signet ring in 14k gold with 0.11 ct. t.w. white diamonds and 0.13 ct. t.w. blue sapphires, $2,640; Ylang23
Foundrae Jewelry Passion Classic signet ring in 18k gold detailed in diamonds, $2,990; Ylang 23
Noguchi Gray Diamond signet ring in brushed 14k white gold with 16 gray diamonds, each just over 1 mm in diameter, $2,476; Twist
Elie Top Chevalière Earth ring, carved on black onyx with 3.21 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k gold and sterling silver, $5,742; Twist
Top: Guiding Star pinky ring, available in 14k yellow or rose gold with white diamond, $1,543; Marlo Laz
Kristin Young is writing the On Your Market blog while Brittany Siminitz is on maternity leave.
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