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Rings are a very important piece of jewelry. For centuries they were worn by important leaders and rulers as a way to validate their identity. As you could imagine, not all the subjects of a kingdom would know what their ruler (king/queen) actually looked like. There was no television or internet available to offer an easy way to spread imagery. There were often painting and posters depicting them, but even those were not to be found in all corners of the land. Rings often featured the Royal Seal, which was used in combination with wax to make documents, letters and laws official. Wearing the royal seal was a definite way to identify a ruler, as that seal would be recognizable because it would have been around for generations, passed down through blood heirs to a given throne. Masonic rings work on the same principle. Rings today Today, the power of the ring has been significantly diminished because a forgery is easy to make with all of the technology we have available today, and the ease of access to materials. Masonic rings, however, are still very important to Freemasons, and they still possess a purpose. There are still masonic signet rings used today. Much like days of old, they are used to authenticate a person’s identity. How does it work? It’s unclear when Freemasons began using signet Masonic rings as an identifier, but there is a reason why they are effective. Few people pay much attention to the detail of jewelry another person is wearing. Rings are hard to focus on when a person’s hands are moving around, and many people simply aren’t observant enough, or interested enough to take note. An intricate signet ring could be very difficult to forge so long as there was no clear image of it widely available. In many ways this is like attempting to forge paper currency by recreating the stamping plate. There are a lot of intricate details that must be exactly right, and few people are capable of it – or have the accurate knowledge to reproduce it. A forgery of that level is quite difficult to make, and any true Freemason of the right rank would likely be able to spot a fake. Who wears these rings? Masons of the highest order, or those who have been recognized with distinction may possess a signet ring, but it is hard to say. In this day and age Masonic rings would not be designed to act as an official seal (with wax) so it’s likely they would be a little more luxurious than ancient rings. Famous signet rings Some of the most famous signet rings belonged to some very important historical figures. The Roman General Pompey had one that depicted a lion holding a sword. Julius Caesar also wore one. Michelangelo wore a signet ring that bore a section of the Sistine Chapel on it, where his famous painting adorns the ceiling. Augustus Caesar also had a ring, which went through 3 different design changes throughout his rule. Masonic rings are based on a rich heritage of use. Although not every masonic ring will be a true signet ring, all legitimate rings worn by real Freemasons likely have a meaning and purpose far beyond being fashionable. Jewelry Liquidation offers high-quality, inexpensive jewelry with synthetic stone options at cheap prices online, from men’s masonic rings to customizable wedding bands, you can get the jewelry for a fraction of the price.
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