A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side comprising: (a) a primary sealing ring disposed within a housing along a rotatable element, said primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along said housing and a radial sealing surface along said rotatable element, said primary sealing ring includes at least two seal segments; (b) a ring-shaped insert secured within and directly contacting said housing and/or being integral with said housing, a portion of said ring-shaped insert forming an inward flange extending toward but not contacting said primary sealing ring; (c) a second sealing ring positioned about said primary sealing ring, said second sealing ring sealingly engaging a portion of a face of said inward flange, said second sealing ring extending below the end of said inward flange so as to contact an outer circumferential surface of said primary sealing ring; and (d) a third sealing ring which contacts and sealingly engages said primary sealing ring opposite of sealing engagement with said housing, said second sealing ring being disposed between said inward flange and said third sealing ring, said third sealing ring including at least two ring segments; wherein said ring-shaped insert, said second sealing ring, and said third sealing ring define a first cavity adjacent to said second sealing ring and said third sealing ring; said primary sealing ring, said second sealing ring, said inward flange, and said housing define a second cavity adjacent to said primary sealing ring; said inward flange and said second sealing ring cooperate to separate said first cavity from said second cavity. (a) a primary sealing ring disposed within a housing along a rotatable element, said primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along said housing and a radial sealing surface along said rotatable element, said primary sealing ring includes at least two seal segments; (b) a ring-shaped insert secured within and directly contacting said housing and/or being integral with said housing, a portion of said ring-shaped insert forming an inward flange extending toward but not contacting said primary sealing ring; (c) a second sealing ring positioned about said primary sealing ring, said second sealing ring sealingly engaging a portion of a face of said inward flange, said second sealing ring extending below the end of said inward flange so as to contact an outer circumferential surface of said primary sealing ring; and (d) a third sealing ring which contacts and sealingly engages said primary sealing ring opposite of sealing engagement with said housing, said second sealing ring being disposed between said inward flange and said third sealing ring, said third sealing ring including at least two ring segments; said ring-shaped insert, said second sealing ring, and said third sealing ring define a first cavity adjacent to said second sealing ring and said third sealing ring; said primary sealing ring, said second sealing ring, said inward flange, and said housing define a second cavity adjacent to said primary sealing ring; said inward flange and said second sealing ring cooperate to separate said first cavity from said second cavity.