Home Get Inspired Rings Signet Signet Ring with Bird, Wave & Crest Motifs — Silver

A sterling silver signet ring with an oval face engraved with a bird in flight, a wave motif on one shoulder, and a small heraldic crest on the other shoulder.

Signet Ring with Bird, Wave & Crest Motifs — Silver

Sterling silver

S. wanted a signet ring that could carry a few personal touchstones at once — a bird in flight on the face, a wave on one shoulder, and a nod to his history on the other. He paired it with a matching cuff bracelet so the two pieces would read as a set. When the render came through he wrote back: 'I am honestly blown away. I definitely didn't think it would look so good.'

'I am honestly blown away. I definitely didn't think it would look so good but I absolutely love the design of both the cuff and the ring so I'm happy to pay to get them made!' — on seeing the first render

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Daily wear For himself Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage, Personal symbol / signet

Quick specs

Design type

Rings Signet

Primary Metal

Sterling silver

Primary Stone

No stone

Accent Stones

None

Style

Animals Engraved Heraldry Signet Symbolic

Design Complexity

Moderate

Intent

Make Your Mark Cultural or heritage, Personal symbol / signet

Intent: Certainty

High

Size

Ring size 10 US (19.76mm). Signet top 11mm x 11mm (round).

How they made it distinctive

01
Round 11mm signet face chosen specifically to center a single bird-in-flight image cleanly
02
Two separate shoulder medallions carry distinct symbols — a wave and a crest — rather than leaving the shoulders plain
03
Designed as a matched pair with a companion cuff bracelet in the same metal and shape language
04
Sterling silver selected to keep the pair affordable while matching in color and finish
05
Crest detail chosen to make a personal connection to the wearer's own history rather than a generic decorative element

How you'd make it yours

Metal: this piece is sterling silver; a new commission could use 14k or 18k white, yellow, or rose gold for more durability

Signet top size: this piece uses an 11mm x 11mm round face; a new piece could use a larger or smaller top, or an oval shape

Engraved motifs: this piece features a bird, wave, and crest; a new commission could feature different personal symbols

Engraving depth: this piece uses cast relief detail; a new piece could use deeper hand-engraving for a different texture

One of a kind: this exact ring was designed for one client's personal history and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy

Design changes made

Design matched the initial brief without major changes.

Who this is for

This piece is for someone who wants a signet ring that carries more than one personal reference instead of a single plain engravable face. It's especially right for someone building a small matched set of everyday pieces, or anyone who wants their ring's design to quietly connect back to their own personal history.

How it's made

Once the design was approved, the ring was 3D printed in wax and attached to a wax tree inside a flask. The flask went into a kiln where the wax was burned out, leaving a hollow mold shaped exactly like the finished ring. Molten sterling silver was then cast into that mold under pressure, producing the raw ring ready for finishing. After casting, the ring was cleaned and the signet face and both shoulder medallions were polished to a bright mirror finish. The recessed background of the bird, wave, and crest engravings was left with a soft matte texture so the raised linework stands out clearly against it. No stone setting was required for this piece — the finishing work is entirely in the engraving contrast and the polish on the band and shoulders.

Key note

The engraved motifs are cast in relief rather than hand-cut after casting, so the matte background and polished raised detail come directly out of the mold before any finishing begins.

Pricing guidance

A sterling silver signet ring with three engraved design elements sits toward the lower end of the price range for custom signet work. Most of the cost is in the 3D design and casting setup rather than the metal itself at this scale. Moving to a higher karat gold or adding more surface detail is what shifts a piece like this toward the higher end.

Moves price up ↑

↑
Upgrading from sterling silver to 14k or 18k white, yellow, or rose gold
↑
Adding a third engraved element or extending detail across more of the band
↑
Increasing the signet top size beyond 11mm x 11mm, which requires more metal and more engraving area
↑
Requesting hand-finishing or deeper hand-engraving rather than cast-in relief detail
↑
Adding a center stone to the signet face

Moves price down ↓

↓
Reducing the number of engraved design elements to just the top face
↓
Choosing a smaller signet top size
↓
Keeping the design to a single flat engraved motif rather than three separate elements
↓
Simplifying the crest/emblem detail on the shoulder

Questions people ask

How durable is a sterling silver signet ring for everyday wear?

Sterling silver is a .925 alloy, meaning it's durable enough for daily wear but softer than gold or platinum. It will show more surface scratching over time than a harder metal, especially on a raised signet face that rubs against other surfaces. Regular polishing can keep the engraved detail looking sharp. For someone who wants a similar design with more long-term hardness, 14k white gold is a common upgrade.

Can you engrave a family crest or emblem on a signet ring?

Yes, a family crest, club emblem, or other heraldic symbol can be engraved into the flat face or the shoulders of a signet ring. The design team works from a reference image to recreate the emblem in cast relief detail, so the raised lines read clearly against a matte background. This kind of engraving works well on both the main face and smaller shoulder medallions. The level of detail that translates well depends on the size of the engraving area, so smaller shoulder designs are usually simplified slightly from a larger original emblem.

What's the difference between a round and oval signet top?

The shape of the signet top is mostly a matter of preference and how much engraving detail needs to fit. A round top gives an even amount of space in all directions, which suits a centered image like a bird or an animal. An oval top gives more width for text or wider emblems. Round tops in the 10-12mm range are a common size for a ring meant to be worn daily without feeling oversized.

What does a custom signet ring like this typically cost?

A sterling silver signet ring with a few engraved design elements sits toward the lower end of the price range for custom signet work, since most of the cost comes from the 3D design process and casting setup rather than the metal weight itself. Moving to gold, increasing the ring's size, or adding more engraved detail will move the price up from there. Getting an exact figure usually requires a finished 3D design, since the final metal weight affects the cost.

How long does it take to make a custom signet ring?

The design phase for a custom signet ring typically takes about a week, during which a 3D render is created and shared for approval. Once the design is approved, production typically takes three to four weeks, covering wax printing, casting, and finishing. International shipping can add up to two additional weeks on top of that. The full process from first conversation to delivery is usually five to seven weeks.

Can a signet ring be made to match another piece, like a bracelet?

Yes, a signet ring can be designed to share design language with another piece, such as matching metal, matching engraving style, or a similar overall shape. This is a common request when someone wants a cohesive set rather than two unrelated pieces. The design team can reference an existing or companion piece during the 3D design phase to keep the proportions and finish consistent.

Can the engraving on a signet ring be changed later?

Once a signet ring is cast with engraved relief detail, changing the design significantly would typically require remaking the piece rather than simple rework, since the engraving is part of the cast structure rather than added afterward. Minor re-polishing to refresh worn detail is possible at most jewelers. For a design that might change over time, it's worth discussing with the design team before casting whether a more easily re-engravable flat face would suit better.