Napkin Rings

Vintage napkin rings typically run £40-£200
Over 100 unique antique pieces currently in stock
Genuine sets of twelve are hard to find; larger sets can be made to order
Victorian pieces are the most decorative — chased work, engraving, figural designs
Pre-1900 examples are scarce, typically pierced or heavily engraved
A traditional christening gift, and a popular memento gift from older relatives

The most highly decorative napkin rings tend to be Victorian — embellished chased work, hand-engraved scenes, and novelty figural designs are all characteristic of the period. Pre-1900 examples are scarce, and where they survive, they’re typically pierced or heavily engraved rather than plain. Through the twentieth century, simpler designs came to the fore, a shift that mirrors what happened across most silver tableware of the period. The traditional dining custom was a full matched set — four, six, or twelve identical rings — though that’s moved more recently toward individual pieces or striking pairs, valued as much for standing out as for matching.

Prices for vintage napkin rings typically run from around £40 to £200. If engraving is part of the plan, a plainer style generally takes it better than a heavily decorated one — and it’s worth checking the area you want engraved isn’t too thin regardless of style. Genuine sets of twelve are particularly hard to find; if you need that many, made-to-order from one of our own silversmiths is usually the more realistic route. Worth deciding early whether you want a uniform matched set or a deliberately individual, mixed look. These also remain a genuinely good gift from an older relative — a memento with more presence than most alternatives at the same price.