Signet rings: Once a symbol of power – today a personal statement
RINGKING is the goldsmith workshop and design studio in Vienna's city center with over 30 years of experience for those seeking something extraordinary and unique. We will craft your bespoke, personal statement signet ring for you.
Signet rings have been a symbol of power and authority for thousands of years. Originally, they were used to press wax seals onto documents. The original motifs ranged from initials, monograms, family crests, craftsmen’s marks, and rebuses to heraldic symbols.
Today, they are very trendy and serve as a modern, personal statement, intended to be as unique as the person wearing them. Our goldsmith workshop embraces this tradition and translates these motifs into contemporary designs. Our pieces are created exclusively using the highest quality materials with perfect craftsmanship. We design your ring with family crests, symbols, or rebuses that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also represent love, identity, success, friendship, promises, or rebellion.
Through our collaboration and creative development with our clients, individual symbols are becoming increasingly popular and are in high demand as the ultimate men's jewelry. Our handcrafted and hand-engraved signet rings are unique pieces that stand out from mass-produced items. Hold one of our signet rings in your hands and feel the significant difference compared to other rings. At RINGKING, we create miniature works of art that are both aesthetically and symbolically appealing. Let us design your personal signet ring and wear an individual piece of art on your finger.
We specialize in the creation of signet rings. In the age of digitalization and mass production, craftsmanship is a rarity and more valuable than ever before. Like traditional goldsmithing, hand engraving is a dying trade and is not often encountered anymore. Max Grün and his team are proud to translate a broad spectrum of craftsmanship into creative, contemporary designs with a love for the trade.
As soon as you hold a handcrafted and hand-engraved signet ring from our workshop in your hands, you will see and feel the significant difference between these individually produced unique pieces and the mass-produced goods available. We work with you to develop a unique signet ring that is designed and custom-made exclusively for you. This transforms the rings into extraordinary objects full of symbolism and meaning.
For thousands of years, the signet ring was considered a symbol of power and authority and was subject to fixed rules and conventions for its design. Once, signet rings were used for imprinting a wax seal attached to a document.
RINGKING adopts this tradition and translates these motifs into a modern, contemporary look. These custom-made, unique pieces are designed exclusively for you and crafted from the highest quality materials. Signet rings are adorned with personal symbols, ornaments, monograms, and modern logos. Through the collaborative and creative development process with my clients, personal symbols are currently becoming increasingly popular and are preferred as the ultimate men's jewelry.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT SIGNET RINGS:
WHO IS ALLOWED TO WEAR A SIGNET RING?
Anyone can wear a signet ring nowadays; there are no restrictions. It is a ring that once served as a stamp seal for imprinting wax seals and was considered a symbol of power and authority. Contemporary reinterpretations are adorned with initials, monograms, logos, family crests, fantasy crests, craftsmen’s marks, rebuses, and heraldic motifs.
WHO WEARS A SIGNET RING?
In the past, the signet ring was reserved for the nobility. Later, bourgeois families had their own seal or family crest. Signet rings are very popular at American universities. Most of the time, these rings are adorned with the school crest and the year.
Today, modern reinterpretations are becoming increasingly popular. These are bespoke unique pieces with highly individual designs and engravings. The motifs range from monograms, initials, and ornaments to family crests, company logos, or fantasy crests. There are no limits to the imagination.
WHICH FINGER DO YOU WEAR A SIGNET RING ON?
Usually, the signet ring is worn on the ring finger, but there are no fixed rules here either. Often, the ring migrates from the ring finger to the little finger because the ring has become too tight over the years. Wearing it on the index finger or thumb is less common, but there is no rigid set of rules here either.
WHICH STONE IS USED IN A SIGNET RING?
The classic variation is the rare layered stone (sardonyx), as it is particularly well-suited for engraving crests or ornaments. This creates the unique two-tone representation of the seal. Furthermore, we work with onyx and all types of colored gemstones.
WHICH HAND OR SIDE DO YOU WEAR A SIGNET RING ON?
There are no fixed rules here – signet rings can be worn on either the right or the left. The right hand is usually more noticeable—at least for right-handed people—which is why subtle rings, such as a wedding band, are often worn there. The left hand represents character and conviction, which is why we find it the ideal place for statement rings like signet rings. But whatever you like is allowed!
WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR SIGNET RINGS TODAY?
The signet ring is the quintessential statement ring and, due to its size alone, is suitable for elaborate surface treatments such as engravings or stone engravings. Because of the diverse processing possibilities, initials, monograms, fantasy crests, company logos, personal symbols, and ornaments can be incorporated. This unique piece of jewelry is highly trendy because handcrafted unique pieces have a high personal value; it is an expression of one's own personality and a personal statement.
WHERE DO YOU BUY SIGNET RINGS?
A signet ring is a personal statement and should be absolutely unique. We believe that this bespoke unique piece should be commissioned from a goldsmith. As soon as you hold a handcrafted and hand-engraved signet ring from our workshop in your hands, you will feel the significant difference in individually crafted unique pieces compared to available mass-produced goods.
WHERE DOES A MAN WEAR A SIGNET RING?
That is ultimately a matter of taste. Above all, the overall ensemble should create a harmonious picture. They should ideally consist of the same precious metal or have the same color. Pay attention to the color of your wristwatch as well.
HOW SHOULD A MAN WEAR A RING?
Classically, men tend to wear less jewelry than women. In conservative circles, simple understatement prevails. However, these rules are also being softened more and more.
- Color/Precious Metal: Stay as uniform as possible in the selection of materials and surface finishes—matte or polished surface. Also, incorporate the color of your wristwatch into the overall look.
- Proportions: Adapt the signet ring to your hand or finger size. Men with small hands and narrow fingers should tend to wear more delicate rings.
- Balance: If you wear more than one ring, try to distribute them evenly on both hands to avoid visual imbalance.
WHY DO MEN WEAR THE RING ON THE LITTLE FINGER?
Often, the ring migrates from the ring finger to the little finger because the ring has become too tight over the years. Usually, the signet ring is worn on the ring finger, but there are no fixed rules here either.
WHY DO MEN WEAR RINGS ON THE INDEX FINGER?
There are many stories and interpretations regarding the meaning. One should not take that too seriously. The index finger stands for self-confidence and ambition, so the index finger symbolizes the striving for power. Therefore, the signet ring could be suitable for the index finger.
WHY DO MEN WEAR BLACK RINGS?
That is a matter of taste. We work exclusively with the highest quality materials such as gold (fine gold, yellow gold, white gold, rose or red gold), platinum, and silver. The piece of jewelry is then coated with a thin layer of black rhodium. It must be re-rhodium-plated after a few years, as the rhodium wears off depending on usage. But the "used" patina is often desired by our clients. Especially rose or red gold with black rhodium, which wears off slightly over the years, has a very interesting patina.
WHICH STONES ARE SUITABLE FOR SIGNET RINGS?
Layered stones are frequently used for family crest rings because the engraving stands out even more clearly due to the play of colors. The seal consists of a colored layered stone. It is particularly beautiful because the contrast of the lower stone layer comes to light through the engraving. Furthermore, we work with onyx and all types of colored gemstones.
HOW MUCH DOES A SIGNET RING COST?
Our signet rings are exclusively handcrafted unique pieces. It depends primarily on the material used. Silver is significantly cheaper than, for example, gold or platinum. Furthermore, it is crucial whether it is a hand engraving or an engraved layered stone. Should precious stones be set on the sides, for example? All these questions must be answered before we can determine a realistic price.
WHAT GOES ON A SIGNET RING?
Traditionally, signet rings were used for imprinting a wax seal attached to a document. RINGKING – Max Grün – adopts this tradition and translates these motifs into a modern, contemporary look. These unique pieces are crafted using exclusive materials. They are adorned with personal symbols, logos, initials, monograms, family crests, craftsmen’s marks, rebuses, and heraldic motifs.
WHICH SYMBOLS CAN BE USED IN A SIGNET RING?
There are no limits to the design. In our workshop, they are always unique pieces with top-quality materials. Personal symbols or logos, monograms, lucky symbols, or rebuses can be incorporated.
WHICH MEN WEAR A SIGNET RING?
The signet ring is the ultimate men's jewelry. Its popularity is currently unbeatable because it is an expression of one's own personality and is impossible to overlook. There are no limits to the design and personalization. It is a small work of art in the form of a unique ring.
WHERE DO YOU WEAR A RING AS A SINGLE?
There are no fixed rules here. Rather, it is important whether the ring can be well integrated in terms of color and whether the proportions fit.
- Color/Precious Metal: Stay as uniform as possible in the selection of materials and surface finishes—matte or polished surface. Also, incorporate the color of your wristwatch into the overall look.
- Proportions: Adapt the signet ring to your hand or finger size. Men with small hands and narrow fingers should tend to wear more delicate rings.
- Balance: If you wear more than one ring, try to distribute them evenly on both hands to avoid visual imbalance.
WHICH WAY AROUND DO YOU WEAR A RING, OR IN WHICH DIRECTION SHOULD THE SEAL FACE?
The signet ring is placed on the finger in such a way that the person opposite, not the wearer themselves, can read it.