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Original poster

Does wearing a signet ring mean you're posh

151 replies

pumpkinnut · 15/09/2021 18:28

So I've got feelings for one of my colleagues and I was speaking to my friend and mentioned how he wears a signet ring. Friend said I bet he's posh. It this true? I admit I don't really know anyone else in my life who wears one but I just wonder whether it's common to wear one. By the way there's nothing wrong with being posh, I'm not bothered if they are or they are not.

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 15/09/2021 19:25

Or he might be a freemason 😂😂😂

GetOffTheTableMabel · 15/09/2021 19:29

It’s absolutely straightforward.
If a signet ring has your family’s coat of arms on it, you are posh.
If it doesn’t you are not and, although you may be fooling some middle class people into thinking you are posh, anyone who is actually posh thinks you are a pretentious, needy wannabe.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 15/09/2021 19:30

I'd say it makes you a posh chav

Tigger1895 · 15/09/2021 19:30

@edwinbear

Del boy wore one didn't he?
Exactly
IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble · 15/09/2021 19:31

All the men I know from wealthy families wear a signet ring on their little finger.

Hoolihan · 15/09/2021 19:32

Lots of very posh/old money people wear them, they are handed down.

MrsColon · 15/09/2021 19:32

Weirdly, it's either posh or working class. A bit like saying "what?" instead of "pardon?".

Not middle class.

INeed2P · 15/09/2021 19:34

I think "posh" is relative and defined by lots of things - not really defined by a pinky ring! I have a sovereign pinky ring, it was my great Pas - he bought it when he came to the UK, so I wear it occasionally, I don't think anyone would assume I'm posh because of it!

LimeRedBanana · 15/09/2021 19:36

Sure you can tell if he’s genuinely ‘posh’ - i.e. landed gentry - or not? Just by the way he talks, acts, dresses, etc?

If you’re asking on here - he’s not posh, he’s just a regular bloke.

TwinsandTrifle · 15/09/2021 19:49

Far too many people are confusing signet ring with sovereign ring.

The people I know that wear them have them on their little finger, bear their family crest, and come from rambling country estates, and old money. I've never seen one worn other than this.

chocolateorangeinhaler · 15/09/2021 19:50

It's a public school thing. Lots of men and women I know that were sent to boarding schools and or have land or old money wear them.
Lots of gay men used to wear a plain wedding band in the little finger when being out was dangerous. Wearing it on one hand meant you were available the other meant you were attached.

DramaAlpaca · 15/09/2021 19:51

Very posh men have their family's coat of arms on a signet ring, and they wear it instead of a wedding ring.

youngerself · 15/09/2021 19:52

My DD boarded at a posh school (multiple princesses etc) and was flummoxed by boys wearing signet rings as she'd never seen the like before - they were family things

BashfulClam · 15/09/2021 19:58

My grandad had one. He was a mason, on one side it was a normal signet ring but the face could flip and show the Masonic crest if he went to a meeting.

Bobsyer · 15/09/2021 20:16

My brother has a signet ring he wears on his pinky. It used to be our grandads.

He, and my grandad, are not posh. I don't even know where it came from, grandad is not english!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/09/2021 20:19

@elbea

There has been a thread on this before. People talking about Del Boy rings are talking about sovereigns.

Signet rings worn on the pinky finger with a coat of arms usually signify a notable family history. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have money now, just at some point. Look up the College of Arms.

Or the Elizabeth Duke onyx signet rings. They were cheaper than sovereigns.

Look up the Argos catalogue.

Leeds2 · 15/09/2021 20:20

I wouldn't view them as posh in the slightest.

Mymapuddlington · 15/09/2021 20:20

On his pinky I would say he’s an absolute chavvy dick to be honest.

Bagelsandbrie · 15/09/2021 20:36

Depends on the history of the ring to be honest. But unless you’re into jewellery most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a family heirloom that’s been in the family for generations or a £25 one from Argos Grin I guess that doesn’t matter anyway, if it means something to the wearer or they like it that’s all that matters.

I have a signet ring that I love. It’s a First World War young mans ring that was made as an army / going away present. It’s actually a blend of gold and cheaper metals as gold was very expensive and rare then. I purchased it during lockdown as I was in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and was struggling and I liked the idea that even during the worst times something beautiful can happen / be made. It symbolises hope to me.

All very sentimental and whatever but I love jewellery and I collect quite a bit of it. I’m lucky to have a good relationship with a local antique expert (dhs friend) who also likes jewellery and sells a lot of it and I really enjoy the history of the pieces.

KaptanKatanga · 15/09/2021 20:42

It used to be, some hundred years ago. Now it's wannabe-posh and a bit chavy...

Wherearemymarbles · 15/09/2021 20:46

Depends if its engraved with the family crest

mustlovegin · 15/09/2021 20:46

Does he look posh otherwise or not?

rooarsome · 15/09/2021 20:47

Quite the opposite in my experience

Porcupineintherough · 15/09/2021 20:47

Depends a bit on whether the coat of arms is real and belongs to him. My dad's ring has been passed down the generations and shows his links to the aristocracy, but the money was all drunk generations ago and the family hasn't been even slightly "posh" for 80 years.

fiorentina · 15/09/2021 20:48

A pinkie ring with a family crest would make it more likely they are from a posh background/‘old’ money. Lots of them in the City. But also to be found on those who aren’t so posh these days - generally not on a little finger!