Class Ring protocol
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usna1985
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There is no official protocol of which I'm aware.
In practice, most male grads wear their class rings on their left hand with a wedding ring under it. Some get "form fitting" wedding rings (that fit snugly under their class rings) but I don't think most do that.
Most female grads switch their class rings to their right hand when they get engaged and wear wedding/engagement rings on their left hand.
In practice, most male grads wear their class rings on their left hand with a wedding ring under it. Some get "form fitting" wedding rings (that fit snugly under their class rings) but I don't think most do that.
Most female grads switch their class rings to their right hand when they get engaged and wear wedding/engagement rings on their left hand.
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Class Ring -
Thank you for your response. Yes Heffer Jones does make a from fitted band @ $411.00 which is a exact match to our class oval shaped rings. I've made a few calls to whether there is a Academy protocol. Ive not heard of one in 23 yr's, but then Ive never asked? Thx - USNA-87 / 12th co. Hoo-Yah
Thank you for your response. Yes Heffer Jones does make a from fitted band @ $411.00 which is a exact match to our class oval shaped rings. I've made a few calls to whether there is a Academy protocol. Ive not heard of one in 23 yr's, but then Ive never asked? Thx - USNA-87 / 12th co. Hoo-Yah
Traditionally the ring is worn on the left hand (closest to the heart) with the class crest inboard (closest to the heart) prior to graduation and the Academy seal inboard after graduation (same reason). The ring suppliers do provide a fitted wedding band to go under the class ring.
Unless they are considering marriage after graduation and the issue might arise whether to follow tradition or accept a spouse unwilling to share a ring finger with USNA. Might be a precursor of things to come. They will wear their rings for a year prior to graduation.
^^^LOL '69 still unwilling to see a different point of view when it comes to traditions. So a wife who choses not to share a ring finger will undoubtedly make the marriage destine to failure - what insight you have. Maybe some grads and their spouses chose to recognize their marriage status publicly rather than hidden from view. So do they make a diamond that fits under the USNA ring? or is this tradition only for men? Or Am I to assume the only thing proper for a female grad is to have the diamond in the class ring? Maybe your tradition comes from the fact that until recently past generations women wore wedding bands much more commonly than men did. Now days both typically wear a wedding band.
In reality does it really matter?
In reality does it really matter?
The wedding band is not hidden at all. The two rings are stacked with the wedding band going on first (closest to the heart). Both fit well on the finger. Very similar to a traditional engagement/wedding ring. Actually, many spouses chose a miniature Academy ring as an engagement ring and then wore the wedding band in the same manner as their spouse.
No, it really doesn't matter. I was just responding to the OP's protocol question as to what the traditions are. The traditions are what they are, regardless of my point of view, which, if I am not mistaken, I did not express at all.
Profmom2 said:
No, it really doesn't matter. I was just responding to the OP's protocol question as to what the traditions are. The traditions are what they are, regardless of my point of view, which, if I am not mistaken, I did not express at all.
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Two Cents (ok, maybe five) on the Ring Thing...
From what I've observed, ring traditions also vary with class vintage.
My spouse, a '62 guy, is just happy he can still get his ring on a finger, with arthritis. He was a left-hand guy, wore the custom curved gold wedding band designed to fit with the ring. It's on his right hand now, with the wedding band still hanging out on the left.
Of the mids we have sponsored over the last 10 years, the women seem to get it for the right hand (gotta save that left hand), and about even-steven for men, either left or right.
Back in the last century when I was a BattO, the Ring and Crest officer was one of my company officers. We used to get quite amused about how some midshipmen would do the "pimp my ring" thing and get every possible doo-dad and sparkly thing on it. I've seen plenty of diamonds as dividers and encirclers on both men and women's class rings.
Another tradition, with a touch of vintage to it, civilian fiancees would wear the miniature version of their grad's ring as an engagement ring, usually with diamonds around the matching center stone, eventually with a wedding band curved to fit. Those curved bands also can be set with diamonds or other gemstones. I've seen plenty of alumni wives wear serious diamonds in custom curved bands above AND below the miniatures. I've also seen alumni men wear the custom curved wedding band with diamonds channel-set.
One thing seems to be constant, the proper orientation of the class year either out or in, depending on whether midshipman or grad. As it should be.
For the moms out there, something fun to look forward to is a miniature of your mid's ring as a barrel pendant on a necklace -- tuck that one away as something to hint for. Nice gift from graduate to mom.
From what I've observed, ring traditions also vary with class vintage.
My spouse, a '62 guy, is just happy he can still get his ring on a finger, with arthritis. He was a left-hand guy, wore the custom curved gold wedding band designed to fit with the ring. It's on his right hand now, with the wedding band still hanging out on the left.
Of the mids we have sponsored over the last 10 years, the women seem to get it for the right hand (gotta save that left hand), and about even-steven for men, either left or right.
Back in the last century when I was a BattO, the Ring and Crest officer was one of my company officers. We used to get quite amused about how some midshipmen would do the "pimp my ring" thing and get every possible doo-dad and sparkly thing on it. I've seen plenty of diamonds as dividers and encirclers on both men and women's class rings.
Another tradition, with a touch of vintage to it, civilian fiancees would wear the miniature version of their grad's ring as an engagement ring, usually with diamonds around the matching center stone, eventually with a wedding band curved to fit. Those curved bands also can be set with diamonds or other gemstones. I've seen plenty of alumni wives wear serious diamonds in custom curved bands above AND below the miniatures. I've also seen alumni men wear the custom curved wedding band with diamonds channel-set.
One thing seems to be constant, the proper orientation of the class year either out or in, depending on whether midshipman or grad. As it should be.
For the moms out there, something fun to look forward to is a miniature of your mid's ring as a barrel pendant on a necklace -- tuck that one away as something to hint for. Nice gift from graduate to mom.
Just_A_Mom
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Interesting discussion on Class Ring traditions -
Of course they all began at West Point - I thought this was an interesting link about the tradtion of the Class Ring -
http://www.west-point.org/family/bicent/rings.html
While this description doesn't address left handed or right handed wearing directly - it does talk about wearing the class crest closest to the heart as a cadet and the academy crest closest to the heart as a grad. Closest to the heart would traditionally be left hand.
Don't forget - way back when - wedding bands for males were not common at all. The double ring wedding ceremony wasn't very common until about WWII. The "conflict" of class ring and wedding band is a recent one.
At West Point if a cadet is separated after the Ring Ceremony, he/she is required to return the ring - I assume that is true for USNA as well?
One other note - It is my understanding that the Commandant as USMA feels that getting a class ring is so important that each cadet beginning with class of 2012 has money deducted from their cadet pay each month to go toward their class ring when they are Cows. This was common some years ago and was stopped but just restarted - apparantly too many Cows were using the excuse of lack of funds!
Of course they all began at West Point - I thought this was an interesting link about the tradtion of the Class Ring -
http://www.west-point.org/family/bicent/rings.html
While this description doesn't address left handed or right handed wearing directly - it does talk about wearing the class crest closest to the heart as a cadet and the academy crest closest to the heart as a grad. Closest to the heart would traditionally be left hand.
Don't forget - way back when - wedding bands for males were not common at all. The double ring wedding ceremony wasn't very common until about WWII. The "conflict" of class ring and wedding band is a recent one.
At West Point if a cadet is separated after the Ring Ceremony, he/she is required to return the ring - I assume that is true for USNA as well?
One other note - It is my understanding that the Commandant as USMA feels that getting a class ring is so important that each cadet beginning with class of 2012 has money deducted from their cadet pay each month to go toward their class ring when they are Cows. This was common some years ago and was stopped but just restarted - apparantly too many Cows were using the excuse of lack of funds!
Yes many Mids buy the miniature for their moms to wear as a pendant. - Mine will arrive for Christmas Firstie year. It will be replica of his in finish with synthetic stone rather than real stone like his.
The class crest is also available for gifts for Mom or Dad.
The class crest is also available for gifts for Mom or Dad.