The Signet Ring and its Many Forms

The NY Times Style section today (3/22) had a story on a prep school and within the article was a picture of that schools class ring and how their students and alumnae wear them.  “Students wear their rings with the insignia facing out, so they can capture every experience lived at school; alumnae wear them with the initials facing in, as if to trap those experiences.”  Is this a known tradition?  I like traditions but I was never a school class ring sort of guy.  The Josten’s class ring brochure that circulated my high school in MN every year was my first personal introduction to ‘bling’ and even at 16 found them to be terribly over sized and tacky.  When college came around I tried to find the beauty and pride aspects associated with wearing my alma maters class ring but they too did not get my money.  However, a simple school signet ring with just initials, like the one shown in the NY Times piece would have been more my speed.

I suppose another reason why I didn’t delve deeper into the Jostens offerings was that I already had a ring.  I have had a “B” (Bray) initial signet ring on my pinky finger since the mid 80’s.  Though the “B” has virtually worn away it is a reminder of my father, who gave it to me.  Sort of a right of passage between father and son.  He has been wearing a “B” signet ring for as long as I can remember.  I am not certain if my grandfather “Pops” had one but I wouldn’t be surprised.  For those of you who do have an authentic family crest I am envious.  Unfortunately, because our Bray family lineage goes back centuries in this country we cannot be 100% certain of which Bray family crest is accurate.

20+ years of wear

I have considered having the “B” re-engraved for some time.  I also found out about two signet/family crest ring companies that both look to be doing some exceptional work.  Dexter of Kent England since 1969 is a premier bespoke seal ring engraver.  If you have the hankering to seal your envelopes in wax, Dexter has what you’re looking for.  Their site is easy to navigate and besides the seal rings, they can also hand-make all sorts of signet rings from monograms to family arms to heraldic designs.

G.M. Bentley Designs out of Charlottesville, NC was started by RISD alum, George Bentley in 1986.  He is one of very few fine hand engravers in the US.  If you have a family crest or coat-of-arms that you would like made into a signet ring to pass down, I doubt you could go wrong here.  Stunning quality.

Below is a 16th century signet ring that was found by the late archeologist David Phelps in Buxton, NC in 1998.  More here.