“The traditional wedding band is slowly evolving into statements of a couple’s individuality; this is where the signet ring comes into its own. Unisex and still effectively a ‘band of gold,’ these rings, via hand engraving, have far more potential to turn into a personal emblem of a couple’s love.”
Emmet Smith, Founder of Rebus
Epic love stories demand a wedding ring just as extraordinary.
For generations, wedding jewellery followed a familiar formula: the classic solitaire, the simple band, tradition first.
Today, couples are forging their own path. Chosen as engagement rings or as an alternative to wedding bands, signets are becoming a natural choice for those looking beyond traditional wedding jewellery.
Through hand engraving and personalisation, from family heraldry to hidden messages and meaningful dates, a wedding signet ring becomes an emblem of a couple’s love.
A future heirloom in the making.
A Brief History of Wedding Rings
As far back as Ancient Egypt, lovers exchanged rings woven from hemp and reeds, with the circle itself symbolising eternity: no beginning, no end.
Over the centuries, wedding jewellery became increasingly rich with meaning. Medieval fede rings featured clasped hands to represent devotion, gimmel rings split into interlocking bands before reuniting at the ceremony, while poesy rings carried hidden messages.
By the mid-20th century, the iconic “A Diamond Is Forever” campaign helped cement the solitaire engagement ring and simple wedding band as the modern ideal.
Yet signets have long sat alongside these traditions, passed through generations as markers of identity, lineage and family history.
For modern couples, choosing a wedding signet ring may be less about breaking tradition and more about rediscovering it.
Alternative Wedding Rings: Signets, Bands and Beyond
The history of the signet ring dates back centuries, but their rise as a wedding ring alternative is a more modern love story.
Embraced by brides and grooms alike, signets have found a new audience among those seeking something more distinctive. Chosen as engagement rings, worn in place of traditional bands, or paired alongside one, wedding signets are being reimagined for a new generation.
While historically associated with the pinky finger, they are now often worn on the ring finger itself: a subtle shift that reflects how signets continue to evolve.
“When I started looking at wedding rings, I couldn't imagine myself wearing a normal band. For me, it symbolises love, family, and commitment.”
James, Dorset UK
Often designed together, a signet becomes a portrait of a relationship. Engraved with personal motifs or initials, each ring is unique. Matching designs, contrasting metals, precious gemstones, and more understated finishes create endless possibilities.
“I was never really into the idea of wearing a wedding ring as I thought traditional versions were too plain. I had been keen to buy something personalised, but wanted to make sure it had meaning behind it. A signet wedding ring seemed like the perfect match!”
Sam, Australia
Our wedding bands offer a quieter approach. Hidden messages and dates can be engraved inside the shank, echoing the secrecy of 16th century poesy rings, while hand engraving can transform the exterior of the band.
Keeper rings bring a layered dimension to wedding jewellery. Inspired by Queen Charlotte, who wore a diamond-set band above her engagement ring, inscribed with her wedding date, our collection draws on a long history of protective companion rings. Chosen as a wedding band in its own right or paired with a signet engagement ring, they can be crafted in precious metals or pavé-set with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and more.
Engraving Your Story
The beauty of a wedding signet lies in its ability to tell a story no one else's ring could.
“I wanted a symbol to represent my family. This wedding signet ring is a way of keeping my name with me always.”
Faith, Washington DC
Some couples begin with intertwined initials or monograms. Others create entirely new family emblems, combining surnames and personal references. Discover how one couple’s initials and a hidden Latin inscription became a symbol of love beyond death.
Inspiration can come from the language of love itself. Symbols have long carried coded meaning within jewellery: the Claddagh for loyalty and devotion, love knots for eternity, roses for romance, or motifs rooted in places, memories and rituals. Read how a stag, doe and bumblebee, inspired by long walks and a passion for the outdoors, became part of one couple’s visual language.
Heraldry remains an enduring source of inspiration. Existing coats of arms can be honoured, reimagined, or created anew. Follow one groom’s journey into forgotten family history, where a centuries-old coat of arms was transformed into a bespoke family crest.
A Rebus wedding band offers another canvas for creativity. From our signature laurel and orange blossom designs, symbolising growth, peace and victory, and purity and eternal love, to a motif of your own choosing, engraving opens up further possibilities for personalisation.
The Beauty of Bespoke
The smallest details often carry the greatest meaning. A pavé-set diamond constellation of the night you met. Coordinates marking a place returned to time and again. Secret inscriptions and love tokens hidden within the band. Sapphires woven into a design as a subtle nod to ‘something blue’.
Bespoke details can find their way into every corner of a design, from shoulder engravings to hidden touches known only to the two of you.
Creating a Future Heirloom
Part of the beauty lies in creating it together. Working with Rebus, sketches become artwork and ideas become engravings, taking shape alongside the excitement of planning a wedding and building a life together.
Designed to be worn for a lifetime and passed down, a wedding signet becomes more than jewellery. It becomes an heirloom for generations to come.
Interested in creating a wedding signet ring entirely your own? Get in touch at info@rebussignetrings.co.uk or book an appointment at our Hatton Garden workshop or via Zoom for a private consultation.
