In formalized English armory, the helm (or helmet) serves as the primary indicator of social degree within the achievement of arms. Positioned directly atop the escutcheon and beneath the crest, its physical design is governed by strict sumptuary conventions established during the Tudor period. The Sovereign’s helm is crafted of gold with six grilles, set affronty; peers utilize silver helms with gold bars, set in profile; baronets and knights bear steel helms with an open visor (no grilles) set affronty; and esquires or gentlemen are assigned closed steel helms in profile.
Historically, the artistic representation of the helm evolved from the functional 'Great Helmet' of the 13th-century tournament to the highly stylized, non-functional 'tilting' or 'parade' helms seen in late-medieval and early-modern heraldic art. Its inclusion is vital for the correct placement of the wreath and crest, and it is frequently draped with mantling, representing the protective cloth worn in the heat of the Crusades. While originally reflective of actual battlefield equipment, the heraldic helm became a purely symbolic legal device by the 17th century.