A bit of history

The history of signet rings spans over 4,000 years, dating back to Ancient Egypt, where rings were adorned with hieroglyphs and served as symbols of social rank, power, and tools to seal commercial agreements.

In France, signet rings made their appearance during the Middle Ages and were then crafted exclusively in yellow gold. Hieroglyphs gave way to family crests and coats of arms engraved on the rings. This highly symbolic piece of jewellery was worn by the nobility, who used their ring to seal documents with wax, thus authenticating them with their personal heraldic emblem. In an era marked by widespread illiteracy, this system allowed the sender of a letter to be easily identified.

As literacy became more widespread and handwritten signatures took precedence, this type of ring—also called a “sigillary” ring—gradually lost its practical use. Wax seals were slowly replaced by signatures, and the signet ring fell out of favor. It wasn't until the 18th century that it regained popularity, first among men. Still steeped in social status, it was especially prized by the elite as a way to showcase noble lineage. It became a powerful symbol of heritage and family history, passed down from generation to generation. During this period, the signet ring evolved into a true fashion accessory.