Men and the Signet Rings on the Little Finger

"There are those who have accumulated them only for the one little one, others instead even for this one only, with which they mark that which seals... That one, kept, as a rare thing and unworthy of the offense of use, is shown as from a tabernacle, so that even having had only one on the little finger is a demonstration of more precious furnishings in store"

Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia: Book 33

Pliny tells us that Roman nobles wore the ring on their little finger as a subtle sign of their status. If the wearer had chosen only the humble little finger, it meant that in reality he had many other riches at his disposal that he had elegantly decided not to show.

Worn on the little finger of the non-dominant hand, so as not to interfere with other activities, the ring served to seal by imprinting one's "signature" on the sealing wax. A jewel but also a tool that guaranteed provenance and authenticity. The Romans called them "annuli signatorii sigillaritii cirographi" or "cerographi".

It was already present in Ancient Egypt on the fingers of the Pharaohs and members of the higher classes. Adorned with hieroglyphics that reported the name, personality, and position of its owner, it was an evident sign of power.

Tutankhamun's ring

The name Chevalier comes to us from the Middle Ages, the Knights wore the coat of arms of their family on their finger as a symbol of belonging and lineage. The Chevalier was passed down from father to son: upon the death of the head of the family, in fact, the ring, together with the title, passed to the firstborn son, the other members of the family were dedicated rings with simpler designs precisely to highlight the minor role.

During the Victorian era, it was common in England for men to wear a wedding ring on their little finger, which meant either that the man was already married or that he had no intention of getting married. King Charles wears the Signet ring, the one with the insignia Prince of Wales and the wedding ring, on his left little finger .

King Charles with signet ring and pinky ring

In Paris during the Jazz Age, pinky rings became emblems of personal taste and modern spirit. Pinky rings also symbolized excellence in the workplace and served as reminders of professional duties, particularly in North America. Examples include the Order of the Engineer ring or the Iron Ring of Canada.

It is also said that worn on the left hand it speaks of the power and influence of the family, while on the right it celebrates one's achievements and acquired status.

P.Diddy with diamond on the right

In addition to musicians and rappers, the pinky ring is a Cosa Nostra classic, symbolizing the pact of brotherhood between members.

Al Pacino in The Godfather

Lately it seems that the ring on the pinky especially in men is linked to risk and money. The trendiest of all, however, are the men who wear mothers' and grandmothers' rings on their pinky, I gave you a good idea, right?

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