It’s easy to forget that antique jewellery often had a dual purpose – the poison rings that concealed noxious substances; signets used to impress a seal onto a letter; lockets hiding a memento or photo; memorial jewellery with the hair of a deceased loved one woven in or as part of the design.

This antique signet ring, offered by UK’s Kaizen Antiques and Jewellery, has a crest and motto … and though I can’t make out the motto, the upraised hand with the two first fingers and thumb upright is pretty darned interesting and unusual all by itself. Though the real secret is the hidden key in the band of the ring. It looks a bit like a watch key but could also have turned a very tiny lock, home to more secrets. It sells for £695.