Graduation Jewellery Gifts
Graduation jewellery for a son, a daughter or a grandchild: signet rings, engraved pendants, cufflinks, bracelets, and our Mortar Board and Opening Book charms. Everything here is made by hand in our own workshop at 210 Upper Street, Islington. Most jewellers have pieces made overseas; we make ours here. Most pieces can be engraved with the date, initials or the degree - a gift to wear long after the gown goes back. Allow about four weeks for made-to-order pieces.
What is a graduation ring in the UK?
People in Britain search for a graduation ring and find American class rings. The British equivalent? The signet ring.
The American class ring
In the US, students buy a class ring: the school's crest, the year of graduation and a coloured stone. It is not a British tradition.
The British answer: a signet
A signet ring has a plain face made to be engraved and is worn for decades. That is why it suits a graduation: it carries the name and the date for life, from the first interview onwards.
What goes on it
Initials or a family crest on the face; the date or the degree inside the band. A small ruby or sapphire can be set in the face in place of the class ring's stone.
Which finger
Most people wear a signet on the little finger, where a smaller face sits best. Our signet ring guide covers fingers, face sizes and fit.
The signet ring guideThe graduation ring
Graduation signet rings
Every signet here has a plain face for engraving, in sterling silver or gold. The larger faces suit the ring or index finger; the smaller faces sit neatly on the little finger. If you do not know their ring size, see the size note in the questions below.
Nearly half of the signet ring orders on our website since January 2025 were engraved
Ring
Signet Ringfrom £595
16 x 16mm face, room for two or three initials
Ring
Oval Men's Signet Ringfrom £550
18 x 15mm oval face
Ring
Small Signet Ringfrom £420
10 x 10mm; our most bought signet
Ring
Small Oval Signet Ringfrom £420
12 x 10mm, for the little finger
Ring
Slim Signet Ringfrom £535
16 x 7mm, a narrow face
Ring
Inlaid Oxford Signet Ringfrom £1,300
A hand-cut onyx face
The one we'd choose
Signet Ring
Our Signet Ring has a 16mm square face that takes two or three initials, with the year or the degree engraved inside the band. In silver from £595; in 9ct yellow gold, warm against the skin, it is the piece a graduate keeps for life.
from £595
View the piece
What to engrave on a graduation gift
Short engravings last best and read best in forty years' time. Six things that work, and the pieces that take them. Which would they choose?
The ceremony date, or just the year, inside a ring band or on the back of a pendant.
Two or three letters on the face of a signet ring - exactly what a signet face was made for.
'BA 2027', 'MSc 2027', or 'Dr' and the year for a doctorate. On a charm, a tie bar or inside a band.
The latitude and longitude of the university, the college or the city: a quiet reference only the family will read.
A few words inside a band or on the back of a pendant: a family saying, a motto, the words you said on the day. Hidden, but always there.
The Opening Book charm opens to reveal a message on its inside pages. The closed Book charm takes a title on its cover.
Personalised
Engraved by hand in our workshop
Most pieces on this page can be engraved by hand in our own workshop: the face of a signet, the inside of a band, the back of a pendant, the pages of the Opening Book charm. Engraving is priced on our engraving page. It adds time to the order, so if the ceremony is close, call us before you order and we will talk it through.
Charms
Graduation charms: the mortar board and the book
The only pieces we make for graduation itself. Wear one on a charm bracelet, or on a chain as a pendant, and add a charm for each milestone after it - the first job, the first home. Solid silver, or 9ct gold to order.
Charm
Mortar Board Hat Charmfrom £435
A graduate's mortarboard; can be engraved
Charm
Opening Book Charmfrom £445
Opens; a message on the inside pages
Charm
Book Charmfrom £285
A closed book; a title or date on the cover
Charm
Oval Disc Engraving Charmfrom £245
A plain disc for the degree and year
Bracelet
Charm braceletfrom £275
The starter bracelet for a first charm
Chain
Adjustable Charm Necklace, 45 to 50cmfrom £305
To wear a charm as a pendant, 45 to 50cm
The one we'd choose
Opening Book Charm
The book opens, and the inside pages hold a message: the date, a line from you, the title of their dissertation. On a charm bracelet or a chain, it is the graduation piece we would choose - a small secret, worn close.
from £445
View the pieceKeep going
Necklaces
Graduation necklaces and pendants
A pendant takes an engraving front and back and is worn every day, under a shirt or over a jumper. The tag and disc pendants suit a son or a daughter; the Signet Necklace is a signet face on a fine chain.
Necklace
Soho Tag Pendant Necklacefrom £790
A heavy tag, engraved front or back
Necklace
Signet Necklacefrom £445
A small signet face on a fine chain
Necklace
Silk Disc Necklacefrom £490
A smooth disc for initials or a date
Necklace
Soho Square Pendant Necklacefrom £490
A square pendant for an engraving
Necklace
Dainty Heart Necklacefrom £340
A small heart, silver or 9ct gold
Necklace
Inlaid Signet Necklacefrom £1,295
A signet pendant inlaid with a stone
The one we'd choose
Soho Tag Pendant Necklace
A heavy, solid silver tag with room on both sides: initials on the front, the degree and the date on the back. It suits a son or a daughter, with a T-shirt or a shirt and tie, and is worn every day, not kept in a drawer.
from £790
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For a son
Graduation cufflinks
For the first job, the first suit and every interview after it. The flat faces of the Soho and Inlaid Signet cufflinks take initials; a tie bar takes the date. Smart from day one.
Cufflinks
Soho Cufflinksfrom £675
Flat faces for initials; a stone to order
Cufflinks
Liquid Cufflinksfrom £600
Our Liquid design, plain and easy to wear
Cufflinks
Inlaid Signet Cufflinksfrom £1,495
Signet faces inlaid with onyx or lapis
Accessorie
Tie Bar£290
Engraved with initials or a date
Accessorie
Oval Tie & Lapel Pinfrom £285
A pin for a lapel or a tie
The one we'd choose
Soho Cufflinks
Square faces with room for an engraving: his initials on one cufflink and the year on the other. Made in silver or 9ct gold, with a small stone in one corner if you want a flash of colour.
from £675
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Bracelets
Graduation bracelets
A heavy link for a son, a fine chain or a charm bracelet for a daughter - or the other way round. The charm bracelets take the Mortar Board and Book charms.
Bracelet
Link Braceletfrom £430
Heavy rounded links; worn by men and women
Bracelet
Knife Edge Medium Braceletfrom £495
A lighter knife-edge link
Bracelet
Heavy Link Braceletfrom £680
The heavier Link
Bracelet
Ringo Charm Braceletfrom £430
Round hoops, silver or 9ct gold, for charms
Bracelet
Dainty Heart Braceletfrom £290
A fine chain with a small heart
Bracelet
Adjustable Woven Leather Braceletfrom £360
Woven leather; initials or a date on the metal
Keep going
How much to spend on a graduation gift
There is no rule. Graduation jewellery on the high street starts at under £100; ours starts higher because every piece is sterling silver, gold or platinum, made by hand in our workshop and hallmarked. Prices below are starting prices in silver.
Under £500
The Book charm from £285, the Mortar Board charm from £435, the Small Signet Ring from £420, the Signet Necklace from £445, the Link Bracelet from £430.
Gifts under £500£500 to £1,500
The Signet Ring from £595, Liquid Cufflinks from £600, the Soho Tag Pendant from £790, the Inlaid Oxford Signet Ring with a hand-cut onyx from £1,300.
£1,500 and over
The same designs in 9ct or 18ct gold, for something warmer: a gold signet ring, gold charms, gold cufflinks. The price for each metal is on each piece's page.
Masters, PhD and professional degree gifts
In 2024/25, for the first time, UK universities awarded more taught postgraduate qualifications than first degrees. Postgraduates are often older, and many mark the degree themselves.
Masters
A year of work, often after a job. A signet or a tag pendant with the degree and year engraved, to mark it properly.
PhD
'Dr' and the date inside a signet ring, or the thesis title inside the Opening Book charm.
Law, medicine and professional exams
Qualifying as a doctor, a solicitor or a barrister: cufflinks and a tie bar for the working years ahead.
Buying for yourself
The same pieces and the same engraving. Pop in to try them on, or book a video call.
Book an appointment
When to order a graduation gift
Summer ceremonies are mostly in July, winter ceremonies in December and January. Most people start looking in June, which is late for a piece made to order, so start early.
Made to order
Allow about four weeks. Pieces set with stones take four to six weeks.
Engraving
Allow longer for engraving close to ceremony season.
Call us with your date
Some pieces are in stock and leave sooner. Tell us the ceremony date on +44 20 7359 4977 before you order.
Delivery
Free UK shipping on orders over £100. We post internationally.
Come in
Come and see the pieces at 210 Upper Street, Islington, or book a video call.
Book an appointmentGraduation gift questions
What is a graduation ring in the UK?
Graduation or class rings are an American tradition: the school's crest, the year and a coloured stone. In Britain the nearest equivalent is a signet ring, engraved with initials or a crest on the face and the date or degree inside the band. See our signet ring guide.
Do parents give graduation gifts?
Many do, and so do grandparents. A graduation is often the moment for a first piece of good jewellery: something the graduate keeps and wears for decades, engraved with the date, long after the photographs are framed.
How much should I spend on a graduation gift?
As much as you are comfortable with. Our graduation charms start at £285 for the Book charm and £435 for the Mortar Board, signet rings at £420 in silver, and cufflinks at £600. Gold prices are on each piece's page.
What should I engrave on a graduation gift?
Keep it short: the date or the year, their initials, the degree and year ("BA 2027", or "Dr" for a doctorate), the coordinates of the university, or a few words from you - short lines wear best. Engraving is priced on our engraving page.
Will it arrive before the ceremony?
Allow about four weeks for made-to-order pieces, four to six weeks for pieces set with stones, and longer for engraving close to ceremony season. Some pieces are in stock and leave sooner. Call us on +44 20 7359 4977 with your date before you order.
What if I don't know their ring size?
Choose a pendant, a charm or cufflinks, which need no size, or ask them discreetly. We can post a ring sizer on request: email shop@stepheneinhorn.co.uk or call +44 20 7359 4977. Pieces that are not a Custom Option can be exchanged for another size within their size range; our Guarantee page has the full terms.
What is a good gift for a masters or PhD graduate?
A signet ring or a tag pendant engraved with the degree and year, "Dr" and the date for a doctorate, or the thesis title inside the Opening Book charm. Cufflinks and a tie bar suit law and medical graduates starting work, from the first day in chambers or on the ward.
Is it real silver and gold?
Yes. The pieces on this page are made in sterling silver, gold or platinum in our workshop at 210 Upper Street, Islington, and every precious metal piece is assayed and hallmarked.
