The Seal of Self: Why 2026 Is the Year of the Signet Ring
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi wear matching ones, Meghan wears a diamond on her little finger, and women are buying signets for themselves. The ring that has shed its family crest.
Once it pressed a family crest into warm wax to seal a letter. Today the signet ring seals something more personal: a promise to yourself. Heavy, smooth and worn on the smallest finger, it is the most quietly powerful ring you can own.
Why are signet rings trending in 2026?
Signet rings are trending because they have shed their aristocratic associations and become a symbol of personal identity. Jeweller Lucy Delius told The Standard, "I'm calling 2026 the year of the signet ring," and Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi revealed matching bespoke signets by Cece Jewellery. Women are increasingly buying them for themselves.
From family crest to self-expression
"Historically, signet rings were used as seals for letters and official documents, often bearing a noble family's crest," Cece Jewellery's founder Cece Fein-Hughes told The Standard. "You no longer need a family crest or noble lineage to wear one; today, they're about personality, identity and self-expression." Delius agrees: signets "no longer have the fussy, posho connotations," and women now buy them as a style signifier.
The celebrity signet
The Standard reports that Robbie and Elordi's matching rings, made by London-based Cece Jewellery, feature two skeletons embracing and a quote from Wuthering Heights encircled in diamonds. The Times of India adds Dua Lipa and Harry Styles to the list of signet wearers, and notes Blake Lively wearing one by JUDE by Judy Carter. "A signet carries authority in a restrained way," jeweller Queenie Singh told the paper.
Pinky bling
The little finger has become jewellery's most daring spot. The Standard points to Meghan's bezel-set emerald-cut diamond pinky ring by Lorraine Schwartz, estimated at £60,000, and to Kylie Jenner's pear-shaped pinky ring. Emily Ratajkowski popularised "divorce rings" by splitting her engagement ring into two, one worn on the little finger. Delius's own signature is a signet covered in Victorian-set diamond pavé.
A modern form of self-coronation
Charlotte Needham, founder of The Promise Co., describes women choosing signets to mark "self-promises", milestones, independence or career achievements. "It feels like a modern form of self-coronation," she told The Standard: wearing something that once symbolised status and legacy, but now symbolises personal power.
How to wear a signet ring
- Start on the little finger. It is the traditional placement and the most striking.
- Engrave something personal. Initials, a date or a symbol matter more than a crest now.
- Stack it. A slim band or an old ring beneath the signet adds history. Read about mixing gold and silver.
- Add a diamond. A pavé or bezel-set stone turns a signet into pinky bling. See lab-grown vs natural diamonds.
- Balance the wrist. A bold gold cuff pairs well with a heavy signet. See statement cuffs.
The takeaway
A signet is a ring you give yourself and keep for life. Choose a weighty gold oval, engrave it with something only you understand, and wear it every day. More in Jewelry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which finger do you wear a signet ring on?
Traditionally the little finger, and that is where most of 2026's signets and pinky rings are worn, though any finger works.
Can women wear signet rings?
Yes. Jewellers told The Standard that women are increasingly buying signets for themselves, to mark self-promises, milestones or achievements.
What did Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's signet rings look like?
They are bespoke Cece Jewellery signets featuring two skeletons embracing and a quote from Wuthering Heights encircled in diamonds, according to The Standard.
What is a pinky promise ring?
A ring worn on the little finger to mark a personal promise or milestone. The Promise Co. makes a range of them, and Charlotte Needham calls the trend "a modern form of self-coronation."
