Examples of How to Design you own Coat of Arms

Ordinaries are heraldic charges that divide the shield in different parts

DIVISION OF THE SHIELD BY ORDINARIES

Figure 6
	The bend is formed by two lines drawn diagonally and comprises the third part of the shield. It represents a shoulder belt or scarf.

Figure 7
	The fess is formed by two horizontal lines and comprises the center third part of the shield. It is emblematic of the military girdle worn round the body over the armor.

Figure 8
	The chevron is formed by two parallel lines meeting pyramidically about the fess point. It denotes military fortitude.

So far you have seen the most common ways to divide a shield. Now you may place any symbols or emblems of your own choice inside the shield that will have a special meaning to you; in this way, creating your own and absolutely personal coat of arms. When you have it hand engraved into one of our beautiful rings you can be assured that you have not only a beautiful piece of jewelry but one which is unique, designed by you and hand-engraved by master European engravers.

We shall give you some actual examples, but for the purpose of creating your own coat of arms your own interests and ideas should be your guide. Always remember that the fewer items (charges) in the shield, the less cluttered it will be and the better the end result!

Figure 9
	In an undivided shield just one large dominant symbol or emblem.

Figure 10
	In an undivided shield three symbols; it may be a repetition of the same charge or three different ones.

Figure 11
	In a shield vertically divided in two: one symbol in one side or another symbol in the other side (or one symbol in one side and three on the other as in fig. 11).

Figure 12
	In a shield divided horizontally one symbol above and one below (they need not be the same)

Figure 13
	The shield divided in three by a fess: two symbols above the fess and one below.

Figure 14

Example of a shield divided per bend sinister. There are different charges in each half of the shield.

The shield divided diagonally; a symbol on top and one below.

Note that in this example, we chose to have the diagonal go the opposite way from Figure 4. This division is per bend sinister.

Figure 15
	The shield divided in three by a bend; a symbol above and one below.

Figure 16
	The shield divided in four; in each quarter a different symbol. In this particular case we have the initial of the customer's name, a caduceus symbolic of the medical profession, a tennis racquet representing the customer's hobby and his sign of the zodiac.

We hope these brief guidelines will be of help to you in designing your own personal coat of arms with a view to having it made into a beautiful family crest ring. If you have any questions at all please write to us, we'll be glad to help in any way we can.

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Figure 12

Figure 15