14 Best Signet Rings for Men 2025: Jump-Start Your Jewelry Collection
GQ Recommends Your journey to becoming a Jewelry Guy starts here.By Toby StandingDecember 19, 2024Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.For thousands of years, signet rings have meant just a little bit more than your typical metal band. Used historically as an alternative to a signature (get it, signet), a signet ring may have more of a decorative function nowadays, worn with a gold or silver chain, say, but it still remains a symbol of pride for those who wear one, whether or not the flat face has been adorned with a family crest or cursive monogram.Today, anyone can–and should—wear a signet ring. First, because the heavier weight and historic affiliations add some undeniable heft and gravitas to any outfit. And second, because there are frankly a ton of great ones on the market.The one thing to know is that signet rings are traditionally worn on the pinky finger of your least dominant hand, so if you want to stick to the quote-unquote “rules,” then we suggest finding a smaller, oval faced signet that will slip on with subtle ease. If however, you agree that rules exist to be tested, then your options really are wide open—and we’ve pulled together a few favorites for every viewpoint below.The Best Signet Rings Hit ListThe Classic Gold Pick: Bottega Veneta Gold Signet Ring, $680The Classic Silver Pick: Mejuri Bold Round Signet Ring, $98The Bejeweled Pick: Seb Brown Silver and Blue Grapes Ring, $750 $510The Engraved Pick: Bleue Burnham Lift Creation Signet in Silver, $465The Archeological Pick: Alighieri The Lost Dreamer Ring, $405 $336In This Shopping GuideAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronPlain Signet RingsBejeweled Signet RingsEngraved Signet RingsSignet Rings FAQPlain Signet RingsA plain, single-tone signet ring is as classic as it gets, and lets the style of the ring do the talking. A shinier one may not have much personalization to start, but just you wait: the scratches or marks will come over time, and that’s a good thing—you’ll grow to love each scuff. For a more lived-in feeling from the outset, a signet that has a brushed surface should be your go-to, as the matte finish will catch the light far less.MejuriBold Round Signet Ring$98 MejuriSimple as you can get, but still high-quality sterling silver 925. Engraving is available via Mejuri, but this ring also makes a perfect canvas for a custom engraving, should you want something more specific. Serge DenimesSilver Signet Ring$110 Serge DenimesStill sterling, but this time with a more square face, and finished in a rhodium plating that won’t tarnish as quickly as non-plated sterling. Tom WoodKay Ring Satin$299 Tom WoodTom Wood earns a place in most of our jewelry guides, for good reason. The brand has exacting standards—here, that results in a softly squared face featuring a satin finish that contrasts sharply against a high-shine band. David YurmanStreamlime Pinky Ring$425 David YurmanPart soft square, part oval, and beautifully rounded at every edge. This signet’s surface has a much more fluid shape to it than others we’ve seen—and also comes in gold, though for a much higher cost. AlighieriThe Lost Dreamer Ring$405 $336 SSENSEThe kind of signet you might find in a collection of Roman antiques, Alighieri have utilised their signature handmade aesthetic here to great effect, producing a signet ring that isn’t really traditional, but doesn’t feel at all modern either. It occupies a higher realm, and so will you. Bottega VenetaGold Signet Ring$680 SSENSEIt’s not surprising that the team behind some of the most tasteful, luxurious clothing around also makes some of the nicest pieces of jewelry you can find. This large-faced signet has a slightly concave surface, meaning the mirroring warps a little—a nice Bottega twist on an otherwise iconic piece. Bejeweled Signet RingsChances are, if you like the bulk of a signet ring, you also would quite like to have some gems shining from it. Thankfully, you can find all manner of styles—from ones that have a large, singular stone covering the whole face of the ring, to more delicate settings with smaller diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds—basically anything that you’d dig out of a pirate hoard.The OuzeSilver Raw Emerald Scatter Signet Ring$630 SSENSEThe Ouze’s signature rough-surfaced and scattered-gemstone signet rings are made using a lost wax casting process that’s about as old as the signet ring style itself. The rising jewelry brand, however, makes that ancient process feel perfect for the current moment. David YurmanStreamline Signet Ring$3,800 David YurmanHere, the variated brown of the tiger’s eye stone plays nicely off the lustre of a precious, 18k yellow gold band. As with all things David Yurman, it’s a design you’ll pass down—and one that lifts literally any outfit you might pair it with. Ellie MercerMulti Piece Ring$485 $186 END.This almost-cowprint signet ring is technically made up
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
For thousands of years, signet rings have meant just a little bit more than your typical metal band. Used historically as an alternative to a signature (get it, signet), a signet ring may have more of a decorative function nowadays, worn with a gold or silver chain, say, but it still remains a symbol of pride for those who wear one, whether or not the flat face has been adorned with a family crest or cursive monogram.
Today, anyone can–and should—wear a signet ring. First, because the heavier weight and historic affiliations add some undeniable heft and gravitas to any outfit. And second, because there are frankly a ton of great ones on the market.
The one thing to know is that signet rings are traditionally worn on the pinky finger of your least dominant hand, so if you want to stick to the quote-unquote “rules,” then we suggest finding a smaller, oval faced signet that will slip on with subtle ease. If however, you agree that rules exist to be tested, then your options really are wide open—and we’ve pulled together a few favorites for every viewpoint below.
The Best Signet Rings Hit List
- The Classic Gold Pick: Bottega Veneta Gold Signet Ring, $680
- The Classic Silver Pick: Mejuri Bold Round Signet Ring, $98
- The Bejeweled Pick: Seb Brown Silver and Blue Grapes Ring,
$750$510 - The Engraved Pick: Bleue Burnham Lift Creation Signet in Silver, $465
- The Archeological Pick: Alighieri The Lost Dreamer Ring,
$405$336
Plain Signet Rings
A plain, single-tone signet ring is as classic as it gets, and lets the style of the ring do the talking. A shinier one may not have much personalization to start, but just you wait: the scratches or marks will come over time, and that’s a good thing—you’ll grow to love each scuff. For a more lived-in feeling from the outset, a signet that has a brushed surface should be your go-to, as the matte finish will catch the light far less.
Alighieri
The Lost Dreamer Ring
The kind of signet you might find in a collection of Roman antiques, Alighieri have utilised their signature handmade aesthetic here to great effect, producing a signet ring that isn’t really traditional, but doesn’t feel at all modern either. It occupies a higher realm, and so will you.
Bottega Veneta
Gold Signet Ring
It’s not surprising that the team behind some of the most tasteful, luxurious clothing around also makes some of the nicest pieces of jewelry you can find. This large-faced signet has a slightly concave surface, meaning the mirroring warps a little—a nice Bottega twist on an otherwise iconic piece.
Bejeweled Signet Rings
Chances are, if you like the bulk of a signet ring, you also would quite like to have some gems shining from it. Thankfully, you can find all manner of styles—from ones that have a large, singular stone covering the whole face of the ring, to more delicate settings with smaller diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds—basically anything that you’d dig out of a pirate hoard.
The Ouze
Silver Raw Emerald Scatter Signet Ring
The Ouze’s signature rough-surfaced and scattered-gemstone signet rings are made using a lost wax casting process that’s about as old as the signet ring style itself. The rising jewelry brand, however, makes that ancient process feel perfect for the current moment.
Ellie Mercer
Multi Piece Ring
This almost-cowprint signet ring is technically made up of resin, rather than gemstones, but that takes nothing away from the playful craftsmanship. While at first glance it looks almost looking printed, on closer inspection you’re able to see the true skill that’s gone into its production.
Engraved Signet Rings
Signet rings were designed to be engraved, so welcome to the purist’s corner. You can, of course, always engrave your own blank face, but when there’s a whole world out there of playful motifs and statement designs from brilliant designers, do you really want to go to the trouble?
Bleue Burnham
Lift Creation Signet in Silver
Bleue Burnham features in pretty much all of our jewelry guides, and that’s because they consistently put out playful, precious pieces that are unmistakably born from their universe. Many are brightly colored, but this is actually a more subdued option from them—a collectible, if you will.
Signet Rings FAQ
What do signet rings signify?
Signet rings were originally used to signify an allegiance to a family, fraternity, or higher socioeconomic class and, as a result, were pretty exclusive. Today, they’re free game for anyone in the market for small adornments, whether you’re well-connected or not. Which is great news for the guy who wants to feel like a king but lacks the, uh, required bloodline.
Where's the best place to wear a signet ring?
Traditionally, signet rings are worn on the pinky finger but you can wear them anywhere. We personally like a pinky, index or ring finger, but would probably skip the thumb.
What's the best material for signet rings?
With so many variations on the market, it can be hard to know which material is best. Our advice?Stick to precious metals like solid gold and silver, and steel. They hold up nicely with daily wear and tear and won’t tarnish as easily. If a solid, gold ring is out of the budget, gold vermeil (gold-plated jewelry that uses sterling silver as the base) is also a great alternative.
What is sterling silver 925?
Much like gold has multiple degrees of purity (9, 18 and 24 karat for example), so too does silver. The ‘925’ refers directly to the percentage (92.5%) of actual silver element contained in the metals alloy. This remaining 7.5% is most often taken up by harder elements like copper, which bolster silver’s relatively softer composition, giving a stronger and longer lasting piece of jewelry.
What are the different types of gold?
Gold is classified in karats. This essentially measures the purity of the metal, and how much actual gold element is in the alloy. A lower score isn’t necessarily bad: 9k gold is the most common lower karat— it contains around 40% of gold in the alloy—but this makes it the most durable composition-wise, as higher-karat gold is a very soft metal by comparison. 14k and 18k contain 58% and 75% respectively, with the durability decreasing with each increase in gold percentage. The highest purity you can find is 24k, which is 99.9% pure gold—with that comes the obvious price tag, and the respective softness too.
How do you keep a silver ring clean?
Silver will naturally oxidise and tarnish over time, giving your shiny piece of jewelry a slightly darker patina (which in all honestly often looks great). Still, some simple ways of maintaining the shine of your silver jewelry would be to use a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar and water, either soaking or gently polishing your pieces with a cloth soaked in the solution. Another way is to utilise a quirk of chemistry; line a bowl with aluminum foil, and then add boiling water and baking soda. Leave your jewelry in the bowl for around 3 minutes and then remove, shiny and new. Failing all that, leave it in a bowl of Coca Cola for five minutes. Seriously, it works.
How do you keep gold clean?
Over time, gold plated items over time will show signs of wear, particularly in high friction areas like the back of the neck. This is due to the plating being a very thin layer of gold over a more durable and inexpensive metal, often sterling silver. It’s best to take off any plated items before showering to avoid exacerbating this wearing process with water/chemicals.
The easiest way to clean your gold jewelry is in warm water, with a small amount of mild detergent or baby shampoo. You want to avoid using any chemicals like chlorine or soaps, as this can dull the metal. Polish with a dry cloth to buff out any dirt, and store in a dark place, like the cloth bag that you’ll usually find comes with your piece.
