At Posh Totty Designs, we've been handmaking personalised signet rings in Brighton since 2004. Men's signet rings are among the pieces we're most asked about, and with good reason. They sit at a rare intersection: genuinely ancient in origin, unmistakably contemporary in how they're worn today, and deeply personal in a way that most jewellery simply isn't.
This guide covers everything you need to know about men's signet rings, from history and meaning, to what to engrave, which finger to wear one on, and how to choose the right ring for yourself or someone you love. If you've already read our main guide to signet rings, consider this the deeper dive specifically for men.
What Is a Men's Signet Ring?
A signet ring is a ring with a flat face traditionally engraved with a symbol, initial, crest, or personal mark. The word comes from the Latin signum, meaning sign or seal. Historically, pressing the engraved face into hot wax created an official signature; today, the engraving is purely personal, but the intention behind it is the same: to mark something as distinctly yours.
Men's signet rings are typically wider and heavier than women's, with a more substantial band and face, at Posh Totty Designs we make a variety of different shapes and styles.
A Brief History of Men's Signet Rings
Men have worn signet rings for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, Pharaohs used them as instruments of authority, the engraved face pressed into wax gave a document the force of law. Roman men wore signet rings on the left hand, on the finger they believed connected directly to the heart (the origin of the phrase vena amoris). Medieval knights had them engraved with their coat of arms; merchants used them to authenticate trade documents; aristocratic families handed them down through generations as portable markers of lineage and identity.
The underlying impulse across all of that history is consistent: a signet ring is a way of saying this is mine, or I belong to this, or this matters. It really means something to the wearer and meaningful jewellery is what we do best.
Why Men's Signet Rings Are Popular Again
For a period, signet rings felt like they belonged to either the aristocracy or gangster films. That has changed significantly. Men's relationship with jewellery has opened up, and a signet ring has emerged as one of the most intentional and therefore meaningful pieces a man can wear.
Unlike decorative jewellery, a signet ring isn't worn because it looks nice (though it does). It's worn because it says something specific. The man wearing it knows exactly what it means. That combination of restraint and depth is exactly what makes it feel right for men who don't typically reach for jewellery.
At Posh Totty Designs, we see this play out every day. People come to us not because they want a ring, but because they have something they want to carry- a name, a date, a symbol, a place, and a signet ring is the most considered way to do that.
What to Engrave on a Men's Signet Ring
The engraving is the whole point, and it's where the ring becomes truly personal. Here are the most meaningful choices we see at Posh Totty Designs, along with guidance on each:
- Initials - The most classic choice: your own initial, your child's or your partners, or a combination of two or three in a monogrammed design. Bold letters engraved on a signet face is graphic and timeless.
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A family crest or coat of arms - Signet rings were made for this. If your family has a coat of arms, having it engraved is a direct continuation of centuries of tradition. If you're not certain whether your family has one, it's worth researching as you may be surprised. For those of you who are more creative we can always engrave your own design of your family crest (or anything for that matter) onto the face of the ring.
- A meaningful symbol — An anchor, compass rose, tree, wave, mountain, or any symbol that speaks to who you are or where you come from. Many men choose something that references a place, a profession, or a set of values that feel foundational.
- Coordinates — The latitude and longitude of somewhere that changed you: where you grew up, where you met your partner, where you lost someone, where you finally felt at home. Coordinates engrave beautifully in a clean, understated typeface.
- A significant date — Engraved across the face or inside the band. A birth date, a wedding anniversary, a date that needs to be carried quietly. Roman numerals work particularly well for this.
- Children's names — One of the most popular choices for fathers. A ring engraved with your children's names becomes something you reach for instinctively, turn in your fingers, and always know is there.
- Words in another language - Latin mottos, phrases in Welsh, Irish, or another heritage language. There's something about words in a tongue not everyone can read that sits perfectly on a signet ring - a private thing worn openly.
Our Most Popular Men's Signet Rings at Posh Totty Designs
If you're not sure where to start, these are the three men's signet ring designs we're asked about most, each one distinct, each one deeply wearable.
- The Initial Signet Ring - Our most popular signet ring, and the one we'd always recommend if you want something that works for everyone. Three initials sit in the lower corner of an oval face, small and precise, in the style of traditional Victorian signet engraving. It's understated in the best way: clearly intentional, but not loud about it. A first name initial can sit alone for a cleaner look, or you can use a partner's or child's initials instead. This is the ring people come back to buy again for someone else.
- The Kintsugi Signet Ring - Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi - the art of repairing broken things with gold, and finding the beauty in that repair rather than hiding it. Our Kintsugi Signet Ring carries that idea in its design: a face that references fracture and restoration, made with intention. It's a ring for men who have been through something and come out the other side of it. For someone who doesn't want a crest or initials but wants the ring to mean something, this is often the answer.
- The Nautical Flag Signet Ring - One of our most distinctive designs. Each letter of the alphabet has its own nautical signal flag, a bold, graphic system developed for communication at sea. You can have a single letter engraved as a nautical flag on the face, clean and striking, or choose four flags representing the initials of your whole family. Four flags fills the face beautifully, turning a personal token into something that carries everyone you love. It's a piece with real visual impact that also has a story behind it, which is exactly what a signet ring should be. Perfect for the sailor in the family.
- The Birthstone Signet Ring - A signet ring set with a birthstone is a quietly powerful thing. Rather than engraving, the face holds a stone - your own, your children, a partner's, so the ring carries someone with you in colour rather than in letters. Birthstones have been meaningful for centuries, each one tied to a month and the person born in it, and set into the clean face of a signet ring they look genuinely striking. This is a strong choice for men who want something more tactile and visual than an engraved ring, and it makes an exceptional gift: specific, personal, and unlike anything else on the high street.
- The Fingerprint Signet Ring - There is nothing more personal than this. We take an actual fingerprint- yours, a child's, a partner's, someone you've lost and transfer it directly onto the face of the ring. The result is a piece that carries someone's presence in the most literal way possible. No two are alike, because no two fingerprints are. Men who choose this ring often do so to carry a child's print, or to wear a parent's fingerprint after a loss. It sits in a different category from engraving or stones- less about a symbol or a date, more about a person themselves, held on your hand every day.
What Finger Does a Man Wear a Signet Ring On?
In the UK, the traditional position for a men's signet ring is the little finger (pinky) of the non-dominant hand- for most men, the left little finger. This traces back to the ring's practical origins, where wearing it on the smaller finger kept it accessible for sealing without interfering with daily work.
That said, there are no strict rules today. Many men wear signet rings on:
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The right ring finger - a popular choice for men who wear a wedding band on the left
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The index finger - a bolder, more statement-making position
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The left ring finger - sometimes on the same hand as a wedding ring, sometimes instead of one
The best advice is to try the ring in a few positions before committing. It tends to become clear quite quickly where it belongs. We can give you your ring size in any of our stores.
One tradition worth knowing: a signet ring is conventionally worn face-outward (toward the world) when it's your own. If you inherit a ring, the tradition is to turn it inward (toward yourself). It's a small thing, but the kind of quiet detail that gives an object more weight.
Men's Signet Rings as Gifts: Who They're For and When to Give Them
A personalised signet ring is one of the most considered gifts you can give a man. It works across a wide range of occasions:
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18th, 21st, 30th or 40th birthday - a milestone gift that will be worn for decades
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Father's Day - particularly powerful engraved with children's names or initials
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Wedding gift or groom's gift - a lasting alternative to cufflinks
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Graduation - marking the end of one chapter and the start of another
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Retirement - acknowledging a career and everything it was built on
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Loss or remembrance - a ring engraved with a date or initial as a way to carry someone
A signet ring also works without a milestone. Sometimes the moment is simply now, and the message is: you matter, and this is proof.
When buying for someone else, think beyond the obvious. Yes, their initials. But also: what place shaped them? What have they built? Who do they love? What would they want on their hand every day? The ring becomes a container for the answer to those questions.
Choosing the Right Metal: Silver or Gold?
At Posh Totty Designs, we make men's signet rings in recycled sterling silver and recycled gold (yellow, white, and rose). Here's a simple guide:
- Sterling silver is the most popular choice for men's signet rings. It's classic, versatile, and develops a natural patina over time that many people love, it makes the ring look lived-in rather than pristine. Silver signet rings tend to suit a broader range of styles and skin tones.
- Yellow gold has a warmth and weight that suits the traditional signet ring aesthetic particularly well.
Whatever metal you choose, we use recycled materials throughout, because making something that's meant to last a lifetime should also be made responsibly.
Posh Totty Designs Men's Signet Rings: Handmade in Brighton
Every signet ring we make is handmade in our Brighton workshop, where a team of skilled craftspeople have been making personalised jewellery since 2004. Each ring passes through a minimum of five pairs of hands before it reaches you, from the silversmith shaping the band to the engraver working on the face. Nothing is outsourced, nothing is mass-produced.
We personalise every element: the shape and size of the face, the width of the band, the engraving content and style - block capitals, script, custom symbols. We're used to unusual requests and we're good at translating a feeling into something wearable.
Our men's signet rings are available in recycled sterling silver and recycled gold, and can be ordered to size. If you're not sure about sizing, we'll help you work it out.
If you know exactly what you want, you can order directly. If you're still thinking it through, talk to us as the best signet ring starts with a conversation, and we genuinely enjoy having it.
Frequently Asked Questions: Men's Signet Rings
- What is the correct finger to wear a signet ring on? Traditionally, the little finger of the non-dominant hand, for most men in the UK, the left pinky. But there's no rule. Wear it where it feels right and looks good to you.
- Can I engrave anything on a signet ring? Almost anything, yes. Initials, names, dates, coordinates, symbols, crests, mottos, birthstones and custom designs are all possible. At Posh Totty Designs we work with you to find the right engraving for the size and shape of the face.
- How long does a personalised men's signet ring take to make? Our turnaround times vary depending on complexity but check our current production times on each product page, normally from 3-5 days, or get in touch if you're working to a specific date.
- Do men's signet rings need to be sized? Yes, a signet ring should fit properly, particularly on the little finger where it can slip more easily. - Fill out with more about sizing from the sizing page
- Are Posh Totty Designs signet rings made in the UK? Yes. Every piece is handmade in our Brighton workshop by our in-house team.
Browse our men's signet ring collection, or get in touch to talk about a custom piece. Every ring we make carries something that matters - and we take that seriously.
