Heraldic Rings
Whether you're designing the tenth generation wax seal ring in your family or you're not even sure how "family crest" and "coat of arms" differ, we'll help you to design an heirloom ring that perfectly represents you and your family.
The Custom Experience
Talk About It
Discuss design ideas, options, budget, with your jewelry consultant - your guide to the custom experience.
Get It Designed
See sketches and concept art designed just for you by our jewelry artists.
See It Come To Life
Visualize your piece with high resolution 3D renderings, and we'll adjust every detail until you tell us it's perfect.
Treasure It
Receive your custom piece, with the assurance it's been made to wear and last a lifetime.
Learn More About Our Custom Signet Rings
CustomMade designs and creates one-of-a-kind, custom fine jewelry. Each piece we create is inspired by you, designed for you, and fabricated just for you.
Read more about how we design our custom signet rings.
Wax Seal Rings
Traditional signet rings were used to leave an imprint in sealing wax, identifying the wearer who had "signed" a document or letter with his family seal. For this very traditional look, we recess the design into the face of the ring and mirror it, so lettering reads backwards - ensuring the imprint made in wax produces the correct coat of arms image. Others like this recessed look but have no intention of using their ring as a seal, so we create a similar look without reversing the image. For a more modern style, many prefer a sculptural, raised version of the coat of arms. This type of ring can't be used to create a seal, but it's often very eye-catching and detailed. Check out a few examples of each style for inspiration.
Breaking Down the Coat of Arms
Let's start with the basics: the complete design (a shield, a helmet, banners, etc.) is referred to as a coat of arms or a heraldic achievement. It includes a number of elements, one of which is the crest. It's common for people to refer to the coat of arms as a "family crest," which isn't exactly right, but we try not to get worked up about the terminology. That said, if you're choosing which parts of the design to include in your ring, it can help to understand a bit about the elements of a coat of arms.
Typically, the center of the coat of arms is a shield with various devices (geometric shapes, symbols, animals - sometimes referred to as charges). Sometimes, the shield is supported by two animals or people, referred to as supporters. Above the shield, there's a helmet and, on top of that, the crest. Flowing out from the helm and around the shield is ornamental fabric that's referred to as a mantle. And sometimes there's a wreath (also called a torse) around the top of the helmet, at the base of the crest. Above and below the coat of arms are two banners appear, typically bearing the family name and motto.
Phew. That's a lot to remember!
And this is just an overview of a typical coat of arms. We've made many designs with the distinctive buckle appearance of a Scottish clan crest, and even the unique look of a Japanese kamon. Every culture and every family tradition may have dozens of traditional representations. Our goal is to help you design the look that suits you best and will result in a meaningful, heirloom ring.
Take a look at a few of the ways our customers have chosen to translate their coat of arms onto a ring.
This ring features the full achievement, the complete coat of arms. This coat of arms does not include supporters, so we see the shield, helm, crest, and mantle. To maximize the details, we chose not to include the name and motto banners in this design.
This customer's ring focuses on just the helm and crest (a pair of wings surrounding a heart). Bits of the mantle can be seen around the edges.
This shield-shaped ring reproduces the shield from the coat of arms, using enamel to include the colors of the shield's devices. Colors can be significant, but are often difficult to include on rings that feature more of the coat of arms. Here, by giving the shield a lot of space, we're able to incorporate color for a distinctive look.
On this ring, we included most of the coat of arms, including two lion supporters holding the shield and the name banner at the bottom. We show less of the mantle in this coat of arms to make room for these other elements.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a project take?
Typically, your custom piece will be in your hands 2-4 weeks after we've finalized your design. However, because each project is different, the time it takes to complete your project may vary. Here's a rough breakdown of how long each part of our process takes:
Design: As long as it takes for you to tell us it's perfectWhen it comes to creating your design, we'll work at your pace. Some customers only need to exchange a few messages with us - we'll often be ready to make their piece within a few days. Others may prefer to design and iterate with us over many weeks, or even months.
Production: Approximately 2-4 weeksOnce you've approved a design, we'll manufacture your piece, finishing all the details by hand. When it's ready, we'll send you photographs of your finished piece so you can give us your seal of approval before we ship it to you.
Shipping: 1-3 days (domestic), Approximately 1 week (international)We offer free shipping within the US via FedEx or USPS, and we ship international packages via DHL Worldwide Express, one of the fastest services available. Depending on location, international shipments can sometimes be delayed by local customs for inspection, which can extend the delivery time.
How much will my ring cost?
In general, our custom rings are the same price as similar rings off-the-shelf ('similar' meaning a comparable selection of metals and gemstones used, which are the biggest factors in price). Our aim is to make high-quality custom designs accessible to everyone.
Each ring we produce starts off as a brand new concept. Because of that, it’s difficult to know how much a piece is going to cost without knowing a bit more about the idea you have in mind.
The easiest way to figure out how much your ring will cost is to start a consultation with us and let our team know what you're looking for - we can provide an estimate with only a few details.
When do I get to see a design? Do I have to pay first?
There's no charge to discuss your design and price out options with our team. We request a deposit prior to producing 3D models and renderings of your design and that deposit goes toward the final cost of producing your piece.
Do you offer a warranty?
We stand behind our jewelry 100% and we offer a comprehensive set of warranties so that you can purchase with confidence.
Lifetime Manufacturer WarrantyWe guarantee our workmanship and take responsibility for any structural defects.
Certificate of AuthenticityAll the materials (metals, diamonds, and gemstones) we sell are authentic and properly specified in your proposal agreement.
Accent Stone Loss WarrantyIf any small accent gems (<$100 value) break or fall out of their settings in the first year after we create the ring or within a year of us performing maintenance on the ring, we’ll replace them free of charge.