The Best Signet Rings to Channel Your Inner Don Corleone
Men's signet rings have all sorts of connotations attached to them. Most are false. Though first devised to seal correspondence with an engraved family crest (something for posh people, since the unwashed masses couldn't even spell their own name), they're no longer solely reserved for country manor toffs.
Honest. Thanks to a wider choice of options, and a wider appreciation for men's jewelry at large, signet rings are an easy way to add some glint without looking like a Vegas loan shark. But if that is your shtick, we've even got a few of them below.
1 Maison Margiela
Can't decide between gold or silver? No fear! Maison Margiela's two-tone take makes the best of both worlds (and throws the old anti-metal-mixing rulebook straight into the bin). Sterling Silver Gold Tone Signet Ring, mrporter.com
2 Maria Black
Danish designer Maria Black has long peddled left-field finishes for women, but now men can partake too with a unisex sterling silver signet ring far simpler than its feminine counterparts. Ready Heart Ring, farfetch.com
3 Beaverbrooks
For that intricate engraving of your initials plus two stags fighting over a manor house in Oxfordshire, you'll need a big enough base. Which is why a cushion signet ring, the sort with a swollen face for extra detail, is your best bet. Probably space to add your birthdate and National Insurance number, too. 9ct Cushion Signet Ring, beaverbrooks.co.uk
4 Alexander McQueen
As the redefiner-in-chief of Britocratic style, Alexander McQueen's take on the signet ring is as polished and cool as expected: a simple crest mounted on an enlarged two-tone ring. Signet Ring, farfetch.com
5 A.P.C.
French minimalism extends to your pinky. True to form, A.P.C. have dealt a signet ring that makes noise with the smaller details, specifically some simple etching to the outside of the band. Rayure Ring, farfetch.com
6 Versace
Revived by the popularity of American Crime Story, you can play Gianni himself with one huge exclamation point of a signet ring. Pair with a printed silk shirt and your best blue steel. Medusa Ring, farfetch.com
7 Tom Wood
Just as who can wear a signet ring has changed, so too have the designs. Tom Wood's rippled wave ring is a far cry from the finger trophies of old, sure, but it is one for those looking beyond classic designs. Wave Ring, £371, farfetch.com
8 Henson
Precious stones needn't mean falling out of Aladdin's cave. Instead, Henson has gone muted with a black diamond to give just enough stylish flash without prompting a moped robbery. Black Diamond Comet Ring, farfetch.com
9 Stolen Girlfriends Club
Say you do want to go big on the rocks, though. No bad thing. Just know that onyx from the likes of Stolen Girlfriends Club is far easier to wear than rubies or sapphires. And a lot better-looking, too. Members Ring, ssense.com
10 WatchShop
The draw of a signet ring is the customization element: Find your family crest (or just make up your own), and get it on the ring. So it makes sense to go for a blank canvas. Or, more likely, a solid gold one. 9ct Gold Ring, watchshop.com
This story originally appeared on Esquire.co.uk. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
