How much do championship rings cost and how did they become a symbol of excellence in sports?

You’ve probably seen huge rings engraved with the Sports League and studded with precious stones on the hands of famous athletes. Well, these are championship rings, with which clubs express their gratitude to the winning team. About how they appeared and what are their features, read in this article.

How did the championship rings appear?

They began to award rings in 1893 as an addition to the main trophy. The first set of gold rings with engraving was given to hockey players of the club “Montreal”. But almost 100 years later, in 1972, this tradition was formalized, and the championship rings began to receive the Stanley Cup winners. The question arises: why did it take so long?

The reason is that it was suggested by the Amateur Athletic Association to present the rings to the Montreal team to thank the hockey players for their sixth consecutive victory. But they were not the main award and had nothing to do with the Stanley Cup itself, which made them even more valuable. Back then, it was customary to give other memorable gifts (musical instruments, pets or cars) to the champions. In addition, the cup itself did not have the same prestigious value that it has now, and was much cheaper than rings.

Soon this sporting custom appeared in baseball. Before that, athletes also received pocket watches, medals and badges as gifts, but in 1922 the New York Giants became the first team to receive championship rings. Players chose such an award themselves, having voted in advance and preferring jewelry to medals on a chain. In the center of the ring was placed a huge gemstone, and on the sides – baseball bats, gloves and the name of the team.

From baseball, the rings spread to the rest of the American leagues: the NBA, NFL and NHL. However, athletes could choose between a massive ring and an incentive gift. For example, in the NBA, John Havlicek twice chose a wristwatch as a gift, and once he opted for a liquor tray. In the NHL, hockey players throughout the ’60s were on the side of utility over luxury, and chose cutlery and televisions.

In the 1970s, with the rise of the Leagues, the idea of the uniqueness of championship rings crept into the minds of athletes. They became associated with winning even more than medals and cups.

“As soon as you get a ring, you realize you are a champion. You can show it to the world.”

Jason Terry, American basketball player

Today, the rings have spread beyond the four American leagues. They are even awarded in auto and motorcycle racing and rugby, and in baseball itself since 1995 it is official that not only the champions, but also the second team of finalists should receive rings.

How much do championship rings cost and who makes them?

Champion rings for all American leagues are usually made by two companies specializing in the production of men’s gold rings – L.G. Balfour and Jostens. In recent years, Tiffany & Co. has also been trying to break into the market. If in 1893 for the manufacture of rings allocated $ 10, then nowadays their nominal value is usually about $ 20-25 thousand.

Who can get a ring?

Now clubs order about 300-500 rings after the victory, and in American soccer reaches up to 900 copies. Because of the large number of massive rings are usually divided into category A: these are expensive models with precious stones, which receive the main players and coaching staff, and category B and C – without precious stones for other club employees, friends and relatives.

Initially, the rings were given to those who were uninvolved in the victory. Former players, coaches, investors, substitutes whose names were not on the trophy, but over time all those involved in the victory began to receive them.