Seattle Bellevue
Sign In

Signet

sig·​net | ˈsig-nət

noun

A private seal once impressed into wax to authenticate a document, which was often formed into a finger ring with the seal forming the bezel of the ring

A signet is a specialized type of private seal that was traditionally used to authenticate a document, pressing the item into wax to leave a mark that is unique to the holder of that signet. The signet itself was often formed into a ring worn on the finger, with the seal forming the bezel of the ring. These types of jewelry have been worn since Ancient Egypt, when the seals were inscribed on the back of scarabs. The design of the seal was traditionally carved in reverse on the signet to ensure it would display correctly in the wax when applied.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z