‘Yovrs Onli, Traditional English Posy Ring, Sterling Silver

This ring is normally in stock in all sizes and typically ships within two working days. We often do a size adjustment, and we always give the rings an additional final high polish, before they go out the door. In the unlikely event that a ring size is out of stock, and we cannot ship your ring(s) timely, we’ll email you to let you know and offer options.   

Whether spelled posie, poesy, posey, or posy, the word is pronounced ‘posy’ and refers to a ring that was popular during medieval and Renaissance times as a gift from lover to beloved. Quotations from courtship stories were inscribed, usually on the inside, but sometimes on the outside of the ring. Shakespeare popularized the rings by mentioning them in several of his plays. In Hamlet, ‘Is this a prologue or the posy of a ring?’

From the British Museum: By 1430 love rings engraved with inscriptions were known as ‘posies’ (from ‘poesy’ or poetry). In the 13th and 14th centuries the language of the posy was usually French, but from the 15th century English became increasingly common. Rings were given on many occasions. They often seem to have been declarations of love, rather than formal betrothal or marriage rings.

Another quote from the British Museum: This ring is known as a posy ring, deriving from the French ‘poesie ‘ (poetry). Posy rings were plain hoops inscribed with mottoes or saying, that might express sentiments of faith, commemoration, friendship and love. It was an especially popular type of ring in the fifteenth century. The romantic inscriptions on posy rings suggest that they were also used for weddings.