Jewelry Gift Guide: Signet Rings and Small Pendant Earrings

The other day, a stealthily chic neighbor of mine stopped me in the lobby of our building and asked for some thoughts on where to look for a jewel to mark a special occasion. I call her “stealthily chic” because she’s not the type of woman to flaunt labels or trends. She’s an understated, practical minimalist with loads of flair. She’s the kind of cool and competent New Yorker who finds the perfect puffer at Uniqlo and somehow makes it look like something from The Row.

Her jewelry is equally on point. It’s not layered. It’s worn strategically, like a punctuation point. Elsa Peretti is one of her faves.

For the new jewel, she said she doesn’t want to break the bank. Signet rings were of interest. This is just the kind of challenge I like to rise to on occasion. I spent years assembling Gift Guides and a column called Wisebuys at InStyle when I was the contributing editor of fine jewelry and watches. To me sourcing pieces up and down the price scale is like doing a crossword puzzle.

The following stylish and practical signet rings and small pendant earrings start at around $500 and head on up to four figures. Just in case my neighbor or anyone else feels like splurging.

SIGNET RINGS

Mighty Aphrodite: Athens native Cristina Alexiou makes any number of signet rings depicting Greek gods and ancient motifs. The 18K gold pinky ring above features Eros.

Good Gold Deal: The Pavé Diamond Border Signet Ring from Ring Concierge is on sale for $488.60. How is it made for significantly less than most gold signets on the market? Fourteen karat gold is less expensive than 18K or 22K. The small diamonds are on the lower end of the acceptable color grade. Laser engraving can be added for $35. The Ring Concierge’s Diamond Signet Ring is another good deal.

DY’s Divine Designs: David Yurman might not be the first label that comes to mind when you think of signets, but they have been making excellent examples for years. The 18K gold in the rings has rounded edges that feel comfortable and luxurious on. Two everyday classics in the extensive selection are the Initial Pinky Ring and the Compass Pinky Ring.

Silver Fox: J. Hannah’s $395 silver signet ring features classic oval proportions. It can be worn with a bare surface or engraved for free using a laser. The label also offers hand engraving for an additional $120. The engraving styles differ dramatically in terms of the depth of the cut.

Funny Blue Valentine: Castro Smith is an emerging London-based bench jeweler who specializes in signets with deep-cut seal engravings. He incorporates color into his pieces using ceramic, as seen in the Blue Heart Classic Signet Ring, which exemplifies his romantic, narrative style. Although Castro uses 9-karat gold, which is generally less expensive, the cost is increased by his extensive master craftsmanship. I suspect there is something in the strength of the 9K he needs for the deep cuts as well.

SMALL PENDANT EARRINGS

First Lady Pearls: If these Mizuki pearl and gold earrings look familiar, it may be because they were in former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s regular jewelry rotation. Like all great small pendant earrings, they are not to be underestimated in terms of how they polish off a look.

Artwear: No one does sculptural earrings at a price like Ten Thousand Things. Their hand-cut stone designs, like the Tiny Arps and Small O’Keefe, hover around the $500 to $600 range and make a big statement.

Workhorse: These 14K gold and topaz earrings By Pariah are the kind of earrings that become a signature because you wear them so often. The cost per wear will soon be pennies.

Crystal Clear: One workaround for getting a big diamond-y look without paying for a big diamond is with rock crystal. These Goshwara Gossip Rock Crystal Asscher Cut Earrings on French Wire with Diamonds in 18K Yellow Gold illustrate exactly what I mean.

Gold Splurge: Jean Prounis’s Small Granulated Boat Shaped Earrings are made in pretty much the same mode used by the ancient Greeks. Her 22K alloy is basically what you see in classical jewelry at the Met. The word heirloom fits with these treasures.

Editorial Note: Some of the links in this story are part of an affiliate program. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.