Choosing which style of engraving you like can be a daunting choice - especially if you are purchasing the signet ring as a gift! This blog post aims to help clearly show the difference between the 3 styles, and hopefully make your decision easier.
SURFACE ENGRAVING With this style you get to choose if you would like black enamel - the above image shows how it will look without the enamel. Despite being called surface engraving it is still very deep - deeper than a laser engraving; and the amount of shading and detail that can be included is phenomenal. SEAL ENGRAVING This style is deep carved in reverse - this in turn allows a 3D wax impression to be produced, just as it would have happened hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. This is a very traditional style of engraving. Any lettering on the design will be engraved backwards on the signet to ensure it is the correct way around in your wax stamp. We also sell sealing wax kits should you wish to have a go at creating wax impressions yourself! It's easy and fun! BACKGROUND REMOVED This style is a more modern option - although extremely time consuming and intricate to produce. These rings come with black enamel as standard to really make the details pop. Background removal is best suited to larger signet face sizes. This book is a hand engraver's bible - it's the Fairbairn's Book of Crests Vol II (used in conjunction with Vol I) - it shows the Crests for many many families of Great Britain and Ireland - an invaluable asset to own and absolutely fascinating to just browse through.
If you're unsure of your family Crest we may be able to assist in your search - email [email protected] for further details. This is an original hand engraved steel plate used for printing an illustration in Charles Dickens' novel Martin Chuzzlewit. It was engraved in 1844!!
The plate would be engraved in reverse to produce a positive image. This piece was exhibited at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. What better way to ensure your family history remains in tact and passed on to future generations than by commissioning signet rings for fellow family members?
London Engraver specialise in solid stamped signet rings from the UK, with all rings bearing UK hallmarks, they are then transformed with your hand engraved family crest or coat of arms. These rings will last generations and will help safeguard your family history for those in the future. Not many people have had the chance to see traditional hand engraving done. The below video is a short example of how Ray works - with a hand push graver, eyeglass and GRS vice. In this video Ray is engraving a script monogram onto a sterling silver ring. You can see how the letter 'G' is almost completed in just one single cut! |
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