Identifying signet rings and their engravings

Initials, merchant marks, and heraldry cut in reverse.

A signet's device is cut in intaglio and reversed, made to stamp wax. Medieval and Tudor signets carry initials, merchants' marks (personal monograms of lines and crosses), rebuses, or full heraldry; Roman signets typically hold an engraved gem rather than cut metal.

Photograph the bezel, then mirror the image digitally (or press it into modelling putty) to read the device the right way round. Letter forms date inscriptions — blackletter initials read medieval/Tudor, serifed Roman capitals later. Heraldic arms can sometimes be traced to a family through reference works.

Gold and silver signets frequently qualify as treasure by age and metal — know the law before cleaning or selling. Record internal diameter, weight, and the device in both direct and mirrored photographs, and describe the engraving's wear: soft edges mean a ring that sealed many letters.

From the guide library inside Collectors Catalogues, a free app for cataloguing antiques and finds with honest, museum-grade records.

More on jewellery

Dating medieval brooches — Form, pin, and section are your clues.

Identifying brooch and fibula types — Spring, bow, and catch.

Identifying finger rings — Hoop, shoulders, and bezel.

Identifying beads — Material, perforation, and wear.

Identifying cameos and intaglios — Carved in relief or sunk.

Identifying earrings — Hoops, pendants, and wires from four thousand years of pierced ears.

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