When you look at a picture of my grandmother and you forget the type of clothes she wears she is like my identical twin. A bit scary, to be honest. We look alike and we have the same character: playful and we like to laugh. When she turns 18 years old her father gives her a signet ring with her initials F&L of Florence Linssen. And since we have the same first name and the L is the second character in the name Florence, I inherited that ring. Not only because I like the ring, but also because she told me that ‘a signet ring shows that you are powerful’.
And I could use that power. In my childhood, I have had polio and I need the power to walk and to study. The power to do the things I want to do and do them myself. The signet ring represents the feeling ‘Florenceje selluf doen’ or in English ‘Florence wants to it herself’.
The sad thing is that this golden signet ring with her initials is stolen. The thief cannot do anything with it and then melt it for the gold. Well, he has the ring, but I keep the power!
A signet ring or a seal ring is a very old ornament and dates from the Antique Times. In those days only priests could read and write, which made them very powerful. They have a great influence on the kings and other noblemen, but there is one thing they cannot do. And that is deciding on state matters.
They can write a letter or contract. Maybe even they can write something that the king does not want but does not notice because he cannot read it. And when the kind cannot write he cannot sign the papers, there is no signature in those days.
The solution is a signet ring.
The workmen carve in relief a kind of signature in stone. The king closes the letter and puts a little hot wax on the closure of the letter. Then he presses the stone with his ‘signature’ in the hot wax and that is the proof that the letter comes from him.
The ‘signature’ contains some symbols of the king’s family. And his name. All in relief or intaglio so that the receiver can read from whom the letter is.
In Ancient Mesopotamia (the country between the Eufrat and the Tigris, now Iran) they used carved cylinder seals that people wear around their necks on a string. The reason why is not known to me but I think it is not very practical. You lose that cylinder and take the cylinder off to use it. Well, at times the cylinder turns into a ring which is easier to use when you want to sign a paper.
Since the 15th century BC, the Pharaos and people in high places (mostly the priests) in Egypt use signet rings. Made of turquoise in the shape of the holy animal, the Scarabee. Their name and the symbol of their family are on the signet. The Scarabee is beaded on a pin and attached to the actual ring. You can turn the stone around. So on one side, there is the scarabee, and on the other side your ‘signature’. And they use the signet ring also as a kind of passport. With the ring, you show the authorities who you are.
The rings are made of iron, silver, or gold and the stone is made of quartz, ivory, or chalcedony. That is any gemstone that is a bit softer is used. In Roman Times the shape of the ring is oval and not too big. And it becomes custom to wear the signet ring on the little finger of the non-dominant hand. So when you are ‘right’ you wear the ring on the left pink.
Actually, until today people wear signet rings. Of course today it is not necessary to sign with the ring. Now it is more a piece of jewelry that has been in the family for ages. Prince Charles, Duke of Wales, has a signet ring that is 175 years old. He wears it every day together with his wedding ring on one finger.
Even President Franklin Roosevelt has a signet ring, that he inherited from his father. And his father gets it from his father. Sometimes the signet ring is a symbol of brotherhood. Like every graduate from a certain year has the same signet ring. Most of the time the ‘rings of the family’ have an inscription and the ‘brotherhood’ ring is only a plain seal, made of a gem.
According to the Antique Times, the signet rings are used by people who send letters and contracts. Consequently, most of them are kings and noblemen and maybe priests. That ring is a symbol of power and the ring mustn’t come into the wrong hands.
For instance, the Pontiff’s ring of the Pope is a signet ring, made of gold. When the Pope dies her servants destroy his ring. And nobody uses it anymore. The new Pope gets another ring, with his signature and symbols.
For a long time, signet rings are also used to identify a spy. In WOII the pilots have a signet ring with a hidden compartment under the stone. In that compartment, they hide a small message or stuff to commit suicide when captured. The jewelers in Regent Street are very surprised when MI9 order signet rings with a compass in them, to use for espionage.
My grandmother knows that the signet ring gives me power. Therefore she gives this ring to me. In history, it is obvious that the ring is a symbol of power and identity. For a long time, the signet ring is a piece of jewelry only worn by men. But my grandmother, way ahead of her time, shows with this ring that is it time that women start wearing a signet ring. To give them power and their own identity (when necessary).
Wearing jewelry is not only the emotion and memories of the person who gave us the jewelry, but we also want to look astonishing with it. Do you know what jewelry looks best on you? Do you know what jewelry accentuates your best features and maybe camouflages your minor ones?
FlorenceJewelshop published a brand new PDF with all the answers to the questions above and much more. It is free of charge. Just let me know where I can send it to.
Hugs, Florence of FlorenceJewelshop
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