The two big companies were Balfour and Jostens. Balfour was also famous for SB trophy and other sports items. Also SB rings. Closed the big plant in Attleboro Mass some years ago and moved sales to Minnesota, I think. Jostens was in Attleboro too. At one time the little city over the Mass/Ri line was considered the jewelry capital of the world.
Just a couple of towns away from Foxboro. It would have made delivering the super bowl trophies and rings a lot easier if they hadn’t closed the plant.
Interstesting side note in the school ring company genre. Babe Ruth played for the Balfour company team at some point. Not sure if before he became the Sultan of Swing or a way to make money as part of an exhibition.
Neither I nor my children ordered class rings. I do have an inherited men’s ring from my college, plain gold, and I am saving it hoping my son, who also went there, will want it at some point (inherited from “surrogate granddad.”)
I might wear it occasionally, but if I have it resized, it won’t fit my son, and I’d rather he have it.
I did not get either a HS or college class ring, but our son received his college ring in a formal ceremony at West Point this past August. West Point began the practice of wearing class rings in 1835 and was the first American school to have them.
I posted then that we watched our son in his dress whites receive and don his new class ring at an incredibly moving Ring Ceremony at scenic Trophy Point overlooking the Hudson. The speaker explained the 183-year-old tradition and how this year’s rings contain the gold from 69 donated rings that were put into the crucible for this year’s melt, two of them from the class of 1919 connecting this year’s class to its 100-year affiliate and those who have gone before them in The Long Gray Line. The rings also contain some of the World Trade Center steel that was added to the 2016 melt. Later, he had me in tears when he presented me with a necklace that matches his ring, another West Point tradition.
Academy officers highly value what these rings represent and absolutely do wear them.
I have a high school ring–it was the thing to do back then. I paid for it myself–I think it was $45 in '78. Got the cheap model–slver with our mascot on one side, class year on the other. I got the ring sophomore year, wore it through high school but not much after. It is lost in my house somewhere. Haven’t seen in in 10 years. None of my kids have gotten them from high school or college. They received mailings about ring ceremonies when they were eligible, but weren’t interested. My brother has a college ring that he wears sometimes. I rarely notice anyone wearing a class ring, but if it is meaningful to you, and within your budget, go ahead. (I guess I got my $45 worth of enjoyment out of wearing my high school ring.)
How much does a HS ring cost? My guess is an arm and leg because I know that Senior year pictures are outrageous. In fact, it borders on price gouging and I’d love to start a class action lawsuit.
HS: all 3 kids were offered one if they would really wear it. All 3 declined & were then either a similar priced gift or to add that to our price limit for new college laptops.
All 2 had laptop value increased & I believe the 3rd will either do the same or receive her first nice diamond earrings.
College: Oldest is currently an athlete senior & I thought for sure he would want one & he doesn’t. No offer made for other items especially since he’s going straight to Masters at a different school.
All kids declined high school and college class rings.
Both D’s were on high school state championship teams for their sport that finished first in the state, and each ordered a ring that was customized to this event. They are in boxes now, but D1 wore hers for awhile.
We had a special ring made for my daughter. It is a lot nicer than the typical high school ring. Gold with her name in fancy cursive letters.
But, to each their own! I would never have worn one myself.
It depends if it has sentimental value for the owner. DD did not care for HS ring, but her college ring is very recognizable and most students wear it all the time. Most students get two rings: ultrium for every day and gold for special occasion. She never takes it off.
I have one and wear it all the time. It’s a simple ring and it works for me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on another woman though and I tend to notice jewelry because I wish I had more! My husband has one and it is in a box along with his wedding ring. Neither one of my kids had any interest.
This is not a big deal at all at our public high school. The local private schools, however, do make a big deal out of the junior year ring ceremony although I don’t know how many of those kids wear their rings after HS. For HS graduation I bought my daughter a tricolor gold trinity ring. Engraving on the inside of the ring was free and she choose to have her school name and graduation year engraved. It’s my hope that this is a classic piece of jewelry that she can always wear (as a girl that doesn’t care a lot about jewelry). Neither of my kids have graduated college yet but my son is a junior and this topic hasn’t come up. I don’t expect that he will want a ring
I did get a high school ring but honestly can’t remember what happened to it or how long I wore it after high school. I did get a non-traditional (meaning it didn’t have the center stone and blackened look to it) ring for college and did wear that for quite a few years after college. I still have it and take it out occasionally and am happy that I did get it.
D20 got a class ring. It was one of the lowest cost rings in the Josten’s catalog for girls and came in at about $250 before taxes. She wanted one for sentimental reasons because everyone else (parents, all four grands, etc) had one, but since she can’t wear jewelry at her extracurricular activities, she wasn’t sure how much she would wear it. Hers looks something in between a traditional ring and a nice ladies’ ring.
4 kids: no class rings here; not a thing. My kids have never heard of them.
letterman’s jacket: 1 kid got one; loved it while in HS and hasn’t touched it since.
Our school won state football, and i have seen these big rings that football boys ordered. They are quite nice.
My parents bought me a class ring with two tiny diamonds on the side. At the time I loved it and wore it all the time. After college, it seemed silly to wear, and so it sat in my jewelry box for many years. When my daughter started high school I looked into having the ring altered and re-carved with her high school’s name and her graduation year. Two jewelers told me it couldn’t be done as it was “stamped”.
Fortunately DD isn’t all that into jewelry. But what a colossal waste!
I forgot that we gave our son gold cuff links with his HS crest for graduation as he loves French-cuff shirts. We gave him similar college cuff links for Christmas this year. He will get use from both sets. The college dress ring was very expensive, but West Point gives each cadet a stainless steel “battle” ring with a stone of WP granite to ensure that each cadet has at least one ring.
Our son came home for spring break last night and told us that the cadet who designed the most expensive ring (ruby, approx. $13,000) lost it on a flight recently. The ring did not fit well and either slipped off the finger or someone helped themselves while the cadet slept on the flight. It was not insured. Yikes, but who spends that kind of money and doesn’t insure it or ensure it fits correctly? SMH
I had one, but at my high school almost everyone did, both boys and girls. It was the status symbol that showed the world we arrived and were finally the senior class. As such, it was worth the money because it was worn daily from summer before senior year through the summer after senior year, but never again. I am currently doing the Marie Kondo tidying up, and ran across it while doing jewelry. I couldn’t decide what to do with it, so I pushed the decision down the road to the sentimental category. But, since it no longer sparks joy, it’s got to go.
My kids didn’t get a ring and they weren’t very popular at their school. Their high school offered seniors status by giving them the senior only parking lot. That was a big deal!
One son did get a team ring when they won the state high school baseball championship. It was so big it was hideous. It was a total waste of money. It was once never worn and there were so many other items that made for better memorabilia - the DVD, the championship hat, the photos, the newspaper clippings, and even the tee shirt. I wish I had that $300 back!
I couldn’t afford mine so offered my kids to buy theirs but they declined. I was wondering if it’s a thing any more or not. It seems more like a status symbol pushed by the business just like how diamond companies started engagement ring tradition. Let’s see when new generations decide to end that racket.
My HS ring was hideous, don’t know why I bought one but sold it when gold prices were high in the 80’s. I still love my small gold signet college ring and wear it all the time. DH never got a HS ring but always wears his distinctive Rice ring.
Back in my HS days, you wore your BFs ring on a chain around your neck, or you resized it by wrapping the band a thousand times with angora yarn so it would fit your finger. Good times.
DH almost always wears his Michigan ring. I’ve thought of finally getting one but can’t justify the cost for something I’ve lived happily without all these years. Maybe for Christmas…
