What Are Super Bowl Rings Really Made Of?

The Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year in the National Football League, and the championship rings that are awarded to the winning team are highly sought-after symbols of excellence. But what exactly is Super Bowl rings made of? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the materials used in these iconic rings, as well as the unique history behind them.
A Bit of History
The tradition of awarding Super Bowl rings began in 1967, when the Green Bay Packers were the first team to receive a ring after winning the Super Bowl. Each ring is custom-made and unique to that year’s team. The rings typically feature the team’s logo, conference logo, and the Super Bowl logo along with the team name. The designs are meant to commemorate the team’s victory and also serve as a reminder of the hard work and dedication needed to win the championship.
The Design Process
When it comes to Super Bowl rings, the design process is almost as important as the rings themselves. The NFL typically works with Jostens, an award-winning jewelry manufacturer, to create the rings. An in-house team of Jostens’ designers meets with the winning team to learn about the team’s traditions and create a customized design that celebrates the championship season. After the design is finalized, the ring is created with a lost-wax process and hand-finished before being presented to players, coaches, and staff.
The rings are designed to commemorate the championship season with symbols like the team logo, number of Super Bowl wins, and city or state of the team. Players’ rings will also include their name and jersey number engraved on the side. Some teams choose to include diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and other precious stones in their Super Bowl rings to signify each win in their championship season.
The Metal
When it comes to Super Bowl rings, the metal is an essential part of their design. The rings are made of yellow or white gold and are plated with sterling silver. Every ring contains an alloy of 14-18 karat gold which makes them both strong and shiny. The amount of gold used varies based on the size and weight of the ring, with the heaviest rings requiring more gold.
The logo of the team and the year they won the Super Bowl is engraved into the metal of each ring. Additionally, there may be other decorations, such as the team’s logo or a player’s name, etched into the metal as well. The rings are polished by hand and treated with a special coating that prevents tarnishing and ensures their gleaming finish for years to come.
The Stones
When it comes to Super Bowl rings, the stones used can vary from year to year and from ring to ring. Usually, diamonds are used as the centerpiece of the ring. These diamonds are then flanked by smaller stones of varying sizes and colors. The choice of stones often reflects the team’s branding, such as the use of sapphires for the Baltimore Ravens ring, or emeralds for the ncaa championship rings. Other materials may also be used depending on the design, such as colored glass and crystal. The stones are arranged in a specific order and pattern to create the overall design of the ring.