2019-10-01 Robb Report

72 OCTOBER 2019

Seal of

Approval

signet rings have long

signaled aristocratic origins... or

at the very least a hefty amount

of pretense. Before you turn your

nose up, though, let us tell you why

they’re having a major moment.

Once engraved with a family

crest and used as a stamp to sign

documents, signets date back to

when pharaohs still ruled Egypt.

But their modern counterparts

aren’t about status so much as style.

They now come in all variations,

from blank slates to be engraved

as you please—both Rebus and

Kim Dunham specialize in hand-

engraving rings—to versions

outfitted with ancient Roman

coins, like Jorge Adeler’s, or unique

Balinese designs, like John Hardy’s.

“My Rebus signet ring was

a birthday present from my

wife three years ago, who had it

engraved with my family crest,”

said Jack Strachan, 36, owner

of creative agency Say Hey

Representation. “We’re from

Scotland, so it’s an insignia of a

demi-stag springing, holding a

thistle in its mouth. I hope to pass

it down to my kids one day.”

Thoroughly modern signets are

being worn with everything from a

tailored suit to jeans and sneakers.

And here’s a controversial thought:

While they predominantly still

have pride of place on the pinkie,

they are fit for any finger.

Paige Reddinger

c

Rebus gemstone set oval signet in onyx

and 18-karat yellow gold (starting

from $1,690, rebussignetrings.co.uk)

c

Meadowlark 9-karat gold

and white diamond

($1,339, meadowlarkjewellery.co.uk)

c

Kim Dunham hand-engraved

14-karat gold Phoenix

($3,200, kimdunham.com)

c

John Hardy sterling-silver

classic chain with Damascus steel

($1,200, johnhardy.com)

c

David Yurman sterling-silver

Maritime Compass

($650, davidyurman.com)

c

Jorge Adeler ancient Roman eagle

coin 18-karat gold

($5,980 bergdorfgoodman.com)

Once engraved with

crest and used as aa s

documents, signets d

when pharaohsstill

But their modern co

aren’t about status s

Theyynoww come i

fromblankslatestob

asyouplease—both R

Kim Dunham specia

engravingg rings—to v

outfittedwithancien

coins, like Jorge Ade

Balinese designs, like

“Myy Rebus signe

aa birthdayy present fr

wife threeyears ago

engraved with myy fa

said Jack Strachan, 3

offcreative agencyy S

Representation. “We

Scotland, so it’s an in

demi-stag springing

thistle in its mouth.

it down to myy kids o

Thoroughlyymod

beinggworn with eve

tailoredsuit to jeans

And here’saa controv

While theyy predomi

haveprideoffplaceo

c

JohnHardysterlingsilver

c

c

Rebusgemstonesetovalsignetinonyx

j y

c

DidY li il

c

The Goods | STYLE

72 OCTOBER 2019

Seal of

Approval

signet rings have long

signaled aristocratic origins... or

at the very least a hefty amount

of pretense. Before you turn your

noseup,though,letustell you why

they’rehavinga majormoment.

Onceengravedwitha family

stamp to sign

dateback to

ruled Egypt.

ounterparts

o much as style.

inallvariations,

beengraved

Rebus and

alizein hand-

versions

ntRoman

eler’s, or unique

e John Hardy’s.

etring was

rommy

o,who had it

amily crest,”

36,owner

ayHey

e’refrom

nsignia of a

g,holding a

I hope to pass

oneday.”

dernsignets are

erything from a

s and sneakers.

versial thought:

inantly still

haveprideofplaceonthe pinkie,

theyarefitforanyfinger.

PaigeReddinger

Rebusgemstonesetovalsignetin onyx

and18-karatyellowgold(starting

from$1,690,rebussignetrings.co.uk)

Meadowlark9-karatgold

andwhitediamond

($1,339,meadowlarkjewellery.co.uk)

c

Kim Dunhamhand-engraved

14-karatgoldPhoenix

($3,200, kimdunham.com)

JohnHardysterling-silver

classicchainwithDamascussteel

($1,200,johnhardy.com)

DavidYurmansterling-silver

MaritimeCompass

($650,davidyurman.com)

c

Jorge Adeler ancient Roman eagle

coin 18-karat gold

($5,980 bergdorfgoodman.com)

Onceengravedwith

crestandusedasas

documents,signetsd

whenpharaohsstill

Buttheirmodernco

aren’taboutstatuss

Theyynowwcomei

fromblankslatestob

asyouplease—bothR

KimDunhamspecia

engravinggrings—tov

outfittedwithancien

coins,likeJorgeAde

Balinesedesigns,like

“MyyRebussigne

abirthdayypresentfr

wifethreeyearsago

engravedwithmyfa

saidJackStrachan, 3

offcreativeagencyyS

Representation.“We

Scotland,soit’sanin

demi-stagspringing

thistleinitsmouth.

itdowntomyykidso

Thoroughlymod

beinggwornwitheve

tailoredsuittojeans

Andhere’sacontrov

Whiletheyypredomi

haveprideoffplaceo

c

JohnHardysterlingsilver

c

c

Rebusgemstonesetovalsignetinonyx

j y

c

DidY li il

c

The Goods | STYLE