One would often find the Surviving signet rings of political leaders or other notable personalities of the past in museum, collections or under strict lock. Such signet rings used to be their signatures that were pressed on the waxes and seals or on the bodies of followers. These were hence functional ornaments carried by the officials. This is also one of the most important differences between the antique signet rings and their modern counterparts.
Seal rings or the engraved rings were engraved traditionally in reverse. This was done to produce a positive 3D wax impression. The engravers of such official rings used to create a mirror image of the wearer’s coat of arms, initials or signature, but since there is no such functionality associated with their modern counterparts therefore the engravings on the signet rings are no longer done in mirror style. Designers of signet rings these days often present an array of fashionable but blank bands. Any information can be engraved on such rings. Owing to their official functionality, they were never decorated with fancy stones or pearls etc. And this became their style as a result of which even today such signet rings are not decorated with stones.