Historically, signet rings were used by politicians, religious leaders and wealthy citizens as a form of official signature. Signet rings were also referred to as seal rings in the earlier times. Signet Rings of some powerful men were often used to seal the Documents and decrees with wax or soft clay to prevent tampering. Here the bearers of the signet ring used to press their distinctive seals into the material so as to create the mirror image of their signature in the seal.
So as to reduce the chances of fraud, only a few authorized copies of these rings were ever created. Therefore, such signet rings are now antiques and are highly collectible, owing to their scarcity and historical importance. Many of such official signet rings like the ones belonging to the Popes are ceremonially destroyed upon their deaths.
However Modern signet rings are mere pieces of jewelry. They are largely ornamental, with personal initials replacing the intricate coat of arms found on antique rings. The bands of the gold signet rings can be wither plain or may be very ornate, with Celtic or Egyptian influences. They may also have some personalized designs engraved in them.