Vintage 9ct Gold Signet Ring with a Bloodstone Intaglio of a Wolf and a Crown

There is something wonderfully characterful about an engraved signet ring, especially one that still carries the mystery of its original crest. This vintage 9ct gold signet ring is set with a bloodstone intaglio depicting a crowned wolf’s head couped emerging from a coronet, beautifully carved in reverse so it could once have been used to seal wax with the family crest impressed into it. Assayed in Birmingham in 1971, the ring has a wonderfully weighty and timeless feel, balancing boldness with the rich tradition of heraldic jewellery. Bloodstone has been used for centuries in seals and signet rings because of its deep green tone flecked with natural red inclusions, which gave it an almost ancient, mythical appearance. The wolf crest traditionally symbolised courage, guardianship and loyalty, while the coronet suggests noble or aristocratic association.