Signet rings bearing coats of arms or heraldry

A bit of history

The history of signet rings is over 4,000 years old and dates back to ancient Egypt, when rings were adorned with hieroglyphs, a sign of social rank, power and useful for sealing commercial relationships.

It was during the Middle Ages that the signet ring appeared in France, where it was then exclusively made of yellow gold. Hieroglyphs gave way to seals representing family coats of arms. This specific and highly symbolic piece of jewelry was then worn by all the nobility. They used it to seal their documents with wax, using their heraldic crest, thus authenticating them. In this period of widespread illiteracy, this system made it easy to identify the author of the letters.

Over time, with the democratization of writing skills, this ring, also known as a "seal ring," lost its usefulness. Gradually, wax seals were replaced by handwritten signatures, and the signet ring fell out of fashion. It finally experienced a on in the 18th century, a period during which it became fashionable again, initially among on . Still imbued with social status, it was particularly prized by the elite, who displayed their long lineage in this way. It symbolized heritage and family history and was passed down from generation to generation. At this time, it became a true fashion accessory.

Symbolism of the coat of arms

In France, women's coats of arms are traditionally diamond-shaped or oval.

As for those of the gentlemen, we mainly find the scutiforme of ancient or modern size.

The coats of arms of noble families can be "crowned", that is to say surmounted by a crown (if the family has a title of nobility), by a helm, that is to say a squire's helmet with or without mantling (symbol of chivalry for those who do not have a title), or finally by a mantle for princes and sovereigns.

A disappearing skill

This fabulous and demanding craft, listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in France, requires great dexterity, on precision, and exceptional attention to detail. These true artists, the sculptors, create their work using numerous tools and tools. The art of engraving is unfortunately dying out, and engravers are becoming increasingly rare in France. As a result, production times have increased and require patience (from 4 to 6 months depending on the time of year).

Nowadays, more and more engravings are done with lasers. As guardians of an ancestral heritage, our workshop has chosen to value heraldic engraving, traditionally handcrafted by a qualified and certified artisan engraver. These hand engravings make each signet ring absolutely unique, and their depth ensures its enduring appeal.