A signet is a piece of jewelry, on the flat top of which, according to the original plan, the family coat of arms was depicted for sealing documents. The design on the decoration was cut out in reverse (mirror) reflection, so that the correct image would ultimately remain on the print. Signets were made from precious metals and passed from father to son. They were worn by kings, the highest nobility and famous generals as a symbol of power, belonging to a noble family and a personal seal when composing messages.
The fashion for signet rings came to Europe from France. The eldest in the family put it on the ring finger as a symbol of dominance. The younger members of the clan wore the attribute on their little finger. By the way, such traditions are still observed in some clans in Scotland, Corsica and Sicily. Members of the royal nobility in England also wear signets with family signs.
The engraved personal signet ring still serves as the seal for the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The film "Inferno" shows the moment of the death of the Pope and how the signet is destroyed. This symbol of power cannot be passed on to anyone.
In Islam, men are required to wear the accessory on their little finger. Moreover, it should not be gold, but silver. The decorations of many officials and members of secret societies (Masonic lodge) also carried some hidden meaning.
What does a stylish accessory mean today, and on which finger do modern men wear the signet? Let's take a closer look.
What does the signet on each finger mean?
Since ancient times, there have been strict rules and traditions of wearing a signet. For example, to confirm noble origin, a signet ring had to be worn on the left little finger or ring finger.
The latest jewelry fashion trends do not establish strict wearing rules, as was the case in the past. Modern men can wear jewelry on any finger at their discretion, because... Nowadays, the signet serves mostly aesthetic functions. The only thing that matters is taste, which will help create harmony in appearance, add solidity and nobility.
However, it should be remembered that the location of the signet can tell a lot about the owner. According to palmistry, fingers can reveal a person’s individual characteristics and tell about his character traits. And also wearing jewelry in a certain place tends to enhance the necessary personal qualities.
Let's look at which finger a man's signet is worn on, and what this choice means.
Mistakes a man should avoid when wearing a ring
There are a number of unofficial prohibitions regarding the wearing of rings that apply in the male community:
- Ring on the ring finger. It is customary to wear only a wedding ring. The undesirability of such wearing also has a practical meaning. An acquaintance with a representative of the fair sex may be disrupted, who will be put off by the sight of jewelry on her ring finger.
- Compared to a regular wedding ring, the ring is a more massive accessory. Therefore, it should only be worn with certain clothes. You definitely shouldn't wear it with beach attire.
- The ring on the man's hand must be included. In terms of style and metal, it should match the wedding ring.
- A ring with a massive stone in a vintage design will not at all add brutality to its owner, even if this product has been passed down from generation to generation and serves as a talisman.
In classical society, a stereotype has taken root that a man should wear no more than two rings in everyday life. If one of them for married representatives of the stronger sex is an engagement ring, then the second will be a ring, which must be carefully selected taking into account the character of the individual and his status.
Signet on the thumb
The signet on the thumb symbolizes wealth and power. In the last century, men preferred gold or silver rings on this finger with a large stone (carnelian or ruby).
Today, it is believed that accessories on this finger are worn by energetic, persistent and determined men. They know how to achieve their goals.
Modern psychology confirms the relationship between the thumb, sexuality and the active life position of the owner of the attribute.
Signet on the index finger
A massive attribute on the index finger indicates the desire for leadership and victory, for dominance over others. Many kings and nobles, such as Ivan the Terrible, Julius Caesar, and Cardinal Richelieu, wore accessories on their index fingers. They are brave, proud and self-confident.
It is believed that a ring on this finger enhances leadership qualities and helps realize the most ambitious plans.
Signet on the middle finger
It is believed that rings on the middle finger indicate prudence, self-confidence and discipline in nature. They have a developed sense of justice and a clear outlook on life, they are not afraid of responsibility and difficulties.
The larger the accessory, the more the owner strives to show his irresistibility. And also this location of the attribute indicates a philosophical attitude to life and the ability to think judiciously.
Family signet rings were supposed to be worn on this finger. This indicated that the owner was proud of his origins, honoring his position, ancestors and ancestry.
However, representatives of the stronger half of humanity are not advised to choose this option, because wearing jewelry visually makes the hand sophisticated and feminine.
Little finger in palmistry
The little finger is the weakest and smallest finger on the hand. It is never the main thing in everyday manipulations, but without it it is difficult to fully control the hand.
The little finger is the area of responsibility of Mercury (Hermes). This god, one of the many sons of the omnipotent Jupiter (Zeus), became famous for his cunning and ability to pull off any scam.
Hermes was revered in many ancient cultures as the god of trade, eloquence, happy accidents, and also - cunning and theft. Therefore, wearing a ring on the little finger can help develop communication skills, creativity, the ability to build a business and come out unscathed from the most difficult life situations.
God Hermes
Teenagers love to wear pinky rings. And this is natural: the leading activity for young rebels is communication with peers and the outside world (with which many teenagers have problems) and study.
The cunning Mercury and the finger dedicated to it have a huge area of responsibility. By the way, among other things, Hermes was revered in Antiquity as the patron of youth, so the subconscious desire of teenagers to decorate their little fingers with rings is quite understandable.
However, many adults also wear pinky rings. This is especially shown to people whose activities are related to creativity, science, communication, politics, business and the occult sciences. As you can see, the sphere of responsibility of Hermes and the smallest finger on the hand is truly boundless!
Signet on the ring finger
A signet on the ring finger is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate any type of modern jewelry that emphasizes the masculinity of young people.
In Russia, a wedding ring is placed on this finger of the right hand. But if it is not there, the place may well be taken by a signet. Such an attribute will also be a symbol of fidelity, family and love. And the owner of the accessory will be positioned as a loving and faithful husband and a good family man.
It is recommended to wear jewelry on the ring finger for people of art (artists, actors, writers). Thus, these romantic, amorous and enthusiastic natures receive inspiration and interesting ideas.
Signet on the little finger
According to centuries-old traditions, family signet rings were worn on the little finger. Today, such a choice is not associated with any religious or national customs. It is believed that little fingers are adorned by extraordinary and creative people who want to attract attention.
An elegant ring on the little finger for men is evidence of impeccable taste. It suits business people who easily establish contacts with partners and achieve success in business.
By the way, in the 30s of the last century, representatives of the American mafia decorated their little fingers with signets. Therefore, for some time this manner was associated with belonging to the criminal community.
What about women?
Since ancient times, signets were considered exclusively men's jewelry, but in recent years women have decided to keep up with the stronger half of humanity. Now signets adorn not only strong men’s hands, but also graceful women’s fingers.
A few seasons ago, gold seals from Dior appeared with the house’s favorite motifs: bees, clovers, stars and others like them. This trend was picked up by other fashion houses, offering fans a whole range of signets that add sophisticated layers and a fair amount of audacity to urban looks.
Prince Charles gave one of the most famous women's signets in history to Princess Diana. Now other British aristocrats, for example, Pippa Middleton and Meghan Markle, wear similar jewelry.
If aristocrats prefer to wear not too large signets on their little and ring fingers, then world celebrities are not so restrained. They can combine these jewelry with other rings on one finger and put on several large signets at once, literally strewing their well-groomed hands with them.
On which hand should the signet be worn?
Not only the choice of finger for jewelry, but also the hand is of great importance.
Right hand
In right-handed people, this hand is considered active and life-giving. It is she, unlike the left one, that gives more truthful information about a person. It is believed that researchers and avid travelers prefer to wear jewelry on the right hand. And also sincere and reasonable men.
Left hand
Americans and many Europeans prefer to wear wedding and engagement rings on this hand. In Russia, jewelry on the left ring finger denotes the status of a divorced man.
The small size and simplicity of the design of the attribute indicate restraint and sophistication of the owner. Large signets tend to be chosen by people with frequent mood swings, as well as optimistic and creative people. They strive for luxury, display of status and wealth.
Psychologists note that a male accessory on the left index finger is an indicator of megalomania. And jewelry on both hands means that their owner is satisfied with his current situation and does not want to change anything.
The utilitarian role of the signet
The role of the signet as an attribute of war has been recorded by cultural historians since the times of Sumer and Mesopotamia.
Subsequently, as a male accessory, signets and rings passed on to Ancient Egypt, and then, after the conquests of the Macedonian, to Hellas, transforming into jewelry.
After Ancient Greece joined the Roman Empire as a province, Roman patrician equestrians began to wear signet rings as a symbol of belonging to the nobility.
It is interesting that the tribune, censor and public figure of Rome, Cato the Elder, although not a horseman, also wore such a symbol.
Actively denouncing the passion for luxury brought from Greece and Carthage, he, according to the historian Pliny the Elder, even applied his famous phrase to the flat surface of the ring, with which he ended any speech in the Senate: “And besides, Carthage must be destroyed!” - “Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.”
In Europe in the Middle Ages, with the development of the class-feudal structure of society, the right to wear rings and rings passed to the clergy, where, along with special details of clothing, they became signs of being at one or another hierarchical level.
The most striking example of the allocation of a high church rank over other initiates is the signet ring of the Pope, which always depicted St. Peter casting a fishing net, and, as a difference from the previous highest hierarchs of Catholicism, the name of the pope, under which he ascended the Holy See.
Interestingly, after the death of the pontiff, his personal ring was destroyed and melted down, so only their descriptions and seal impressions on wax and sealing wax, made by the owners on the parchment of papal bulls, were preserved in history.
And among the secular nobility at the dawn of the formation of European states after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the signet became the only way to identify orders given in writing: after all, even kings, not to mention dukes and barons, were often illiterate.
The ability to read and write was considered something unworthy and was the prerogative of the clergy; it was not for nothing that monasteries became centers of education and culture of that time. And the only way to verify the authenticity of the order given to vassals and subjects was to imprint images and symbols of the signet on the sent document.
The engraving of the coat of arms was done in a mirror version, so that when printed, a direct image would be obtained.
Rules for wearing a men's signet
Whatever finger you wear the signet ring on, you need to wear it correctly and beautifully. There are certain rules for this:
- The accessory does not tolerate the proximity of other rings, with the exception of a wedding ring, and even then they must be on different fingers. The maximum number of men's jewelry is no more than two.
- If you wear a chain, watch or cufflinks, do not forget about the compatibility of these accessories with the metal of the ring and the main inserts. It is considered bad manners to combine gold and silver. It is important to stick to one shade of precious metal that matches your skin color.
- The size and design of the ring should match the size of your hands. The jewelry attribute should be proportional to the size of the brushes.
- It is important that the jewelry is comfortable to wear and does not cause psychological discomfort. For example, a bulky ring on the middle finger will interfere with everyday life. You should also consider which hand is dominant for a person.
- Brushes and nails must be well-groomed. A stylish piece of jewelry on neglected hands will look ridiculous.
- The accessory must match the style of clothing. For example, a massive signet ring and a business suit are unlikely to look good together.
When wearing an attribute on the outer fingers of the hand (thumbs and index fingers), it is important to maintain a sense of proportion. The metal of the signet should be simple, the size and design discreet.
Astrologers' opinions
Even in the 21st century, it is worth listening to the opinions of astrologers, whose advice may differ somewhat from generally accepted rules of etiquette. In their opinion, in order to choose the right finger for a ring, they must take into account the character of the man:
- Energetic and emotional people, in order to control their temperament and outbursts of aggression, should wear a yellow or red gold signet on their thumb.
- A man who has low self-esteem should prefer a signet made of platinum or white gold. And you must wear such jewelry on your index finger.
- In the middle age, astrologers advise wearing birth signets, this will help attract good luck and cope with problems and difficulties.
- Those men who are in search should choose jewelry for the ring finger of their left hand.
- Men involved in politics and business should pay attention to the little finger. A gold ring or signet with a stone selected according to your zodiac sign will help in communicating with people.
Not everyone knows on which hand a man wears a ring, but if you weigh the opinions of psychologists, astrologers and the rules of etiquette, you can even find out a person’s character by the ring.
Signet stones
If you choose a huge signet with a bright red stone, and even in an openwork finish, then calmly expect trouble. Unless, of course, you are a singer, actor, artist or bohemian, or your Roman brothers.
Signet stones should be modest. If you are buying a diamond ring, these may be small stones that make up a geometric pattern.
Most often you can find men's signets with a black stone. It can be either semi-precious stones - onyx, agate, obsidian, or precious stones - diamond, black pearl or opal. Precious stones are set into gold or platinum, semi-precious stones serve as decoration for a silver signet.
The most popular over the past decades has been the onyx signet. Men can wear such rings under a suit, under jeans, or as a stylish accessory under a tailcoat. According to astrologers, onyx gives the owner strength and determination.
Types of men's accessories and photos
Men's rings, just like women's, have different types . A signet is a type of ring, which in turn is considered a type of ring. Men began to wear rings in ancient times; in those days they emphasized the status of the one who wore it.
A ring is a massive ring made of noble metal, with a precious or semi-precious stone. Men's rings are never decorated with pearls.
Nowadays, a ring has become an indicator of the financial viability of its owner, since not everyone can afford the stones that decorate rings. It is an accessory for a man who loves luxury and is not afraid to stand out from the gray mass of people.
A cheaper option for a ring is a signet . In ancient times, signets had a specific use; owners sealed letters with wax or sealing wax and left an impression of their signet. They depicted the coat of arms of the family or the initials of the owner, and the design was depicted in a mirror.
Signets are heavy rings with a round or square shaped area on which an image is applied. They come with engraving or with the owner's initials.
In the Middle Ages, along with their practical significance, signets also had a symbolic meaning, showing the attitude of their owner to the noble class. In addition to aristocrats, officials and members of secret societies wore signets .
For men's signets, strict lines and simplicity of execution are preferable - refined, discreet options are the most universal. If you want no one else to have a signet like yours, you can have it made to order. For rings, it is better to choose colorless or black stones. Such jewelry will complement your look.
Next in the photo you can see the types of rings for men.
How to choose a signet as a gift for a man?
First you need to decide on the metal and design.
Beautiful rings for men are usually:
- Ceramic rings. This is a very light material, you can hardly feel it on your hand. Good for a gift to a young man.
- Tungsten carbide rings. It is a very hard material and cannot be broken or scratched.
- Titanium signets are distinguished by a beautiful silver-matte tint.
- Precious metals. This includes items made from silver, gold and platinum.
If your chosen one loves wristwatches or other rings, then the color of the metal of his new jewelry should be in harmony with those that he already has. As an example, if the watch bracelet is made of silver, then the ring should be chosen from the same material.
A large, expensive ring should not be given to a very young guy; it will not look quite appropriate on his hand. Take a closer look at other, easier options.
It is important that the ring matches the style. For example, a ring with a skull would be appropriate for a goth or a rocker, but not for a lover of the classic style.
What materials are men's rings made from?
In this regard, men can be envied: the choice of materials is indeed much wider than for women’s jewelry. In addition to gold, platinum, palladium and silver, men's rings are made from tungsten, ceramics, steel and titanium, and new alloys are often used.
But you still can’t do without the classics, and in addition to fashionable, ultra-modern rings, men are happy to wear familiar models. Fortunately, many types of them have accumulated over the centuries, and over the past decades, jewelry culture has noticeably evolved.
