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 Both men and women are welcome to wear signet rings, though men
are more attracted by these jewelry items. Signet ring for women is just the
luxury accessory while that for men is the symbol of the particular image and
authority.
From the times immemorial the signet rings served as the
sign of authority not the jewelry and few people were authorized to wear it.
Primarily the signet rings were the privilege of royal persons, superior
warlords, head of workshops and the sheikhs. Signet rings were used to seal the
important correspondence and securities and also they were used as facsimile. In
some cases the authenticity and legal effect of the document was proved only by
the copy print of the signet ring to be the will of the owner.
Such facsimile signet rings were mainly inherited and the
handing over was described in details in the will, and sometimes the customary
delivery of signet rings from person to person just meant that the heir was
selected and was the sign to come to the right of succession.
The engraving on the ring could stand for the ranking but
was not limited in that only. The patterns and inscriptions served as signature
and the signet ring was like the stamp we use in our days to authenticate the
authority.
Till our days we keep the belief to the enigmatic features
of some particular signet rings. свойства некоторых печаток. The Masonic signet
rings with the pattern of the death's head hawk are often attributed with the magic
qualities. The skull with the crossed bones is the symbol of intrepidity to the
death. Freemasons used such rings as passwords to attend their secret meetings.
There is a Mason signet ring in the museum by Lev Tolstoy, the Russian writer,
which belonged to his father. The symbol was used during World War II and the
ring was called Totenkopfring («dead's head hawk »), and was depicted as the
wreath from oak leaves with the image of rune and the dead's head hawk. The ring
was presented as the award to the most excelled officers of the Wehrmacht in
behalf of the SS Führer Heinrich Luitpold Himmler. The name of the ring owner,
date of award handing over and signature of Himmler were engraved on the inner
surface of the ring. This is curious but Himmler caused to discontinue
production of such signet rings in 1944 when Germany almost defeated. Moreover,
the Führer caused to burry all the available rings under the rock fall. It
seems that Himmler really believed in special qualities of such signet rings.
The most popular signet ring in the world is «Fisher’s ring»,
that is the ring of the Pope. Since 1265 the new Pope was handed over a golden
signet ring during the coronation ceremony with the image of Peter throwing the
net into the water. The name of the Pope is also engraved on the signet ring which
attests the status of the Vicar of Peter. After the Pope is dead, the signet
ring is destroyed since wearing the ring of the dead Pope was believed as the blasphemy.
In our times no one is required to authenticate the identity
with the print of the signet ring, the sealing wax is not stamped with the
ring, though the signet rings are still in as the sign of good standing, status
and taste.
Signet rings today come as rings with the pattern as
impression. They come incrusted with precious and semi-precious stones, enamel
and mother-of-pearl. The engraving itself may be the pattern or the lines of
wisdom. The hardfaced pattern may be used.
Classic ancient signet rings were produced with patterns
pressed into the ring but not embossed with the aim to have the prominent
imprint. Most of ten the writings were done mirror like, from right to left to
have the recognizable and readable words from left to right.
Currently the signet rings do not come with such patterns since
there is no need to seal the letters or imprint the authority of the owner.
Though, the wisdom lines are often met. The sayings are popular in Muslim world
and people prefer signet rings with cornelian and the engraved line from the
Koran. The prophet Muhammad used to wear such signet ring.
The modern signet rings mostly have patterns and images. The
golden solid ring with the diamond is the perfect compliment to the image of
the top executive. A silver signet ring with incrustation or engraving goes
well with the image of a young man or a creative and romantic person.
Silver looks appropriate with the casual style while the
gold is the conservative metal to suit the business-like image.
In the earlier times the signet rings were mainly worn on
the small finger wile today it’s up to the person. The signet ring looks aggressive
on the index finger and it is best looking on the third or fourth finger.
On the top of it, the psychologist state that the
temperament of men are seen in the way he wears a signet ring. A ring on the
big finger shows the sexuality, the ring on the index finger stands for
authority, the ring is worn on the third finger by men who find themselves
irresistible and the fourth finger is chosen for the ring by those who adhere
to family traditions. If you are looking for the creative and romantic persons,
look for those who wear rings on the small finger.
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