Do most mids get class rings?

Daughter and Son in Law rarely wear their rings but are proud they have them. They always remember more important (and funny) things from four years USNA and TBS and never mention who does and doesn't have a Ring.
 
AF6872 said:
Daughter and Son in Law rarely wear their rings but are proud they have them. They always remember more important (and funny) things from four years USNA and TBS and never mention who does and doesn't have a Ring.
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Same can be said for my wedding ring. I rarely wear it because I do a lot of woodworking and rings and spinning drill presses do not play nicely together. But I am proud to have it (honestly).
 
Only time I ever had a problem with a ring at work was as I was getting down from a 240 ft Boom Crane Cab up on outriggers and wedding ring got caught on a loose bolt on the way down. Luckily tall and toes touched. They can be dangerous in a work environment.
 
ders_dad said:
Our soon-to-be 2/C DS say he has no interest in getting a class ring - too expensive and he will never wear it because it “sends a bad message to those around him after commissioning”. I get the expense but I don’t get the second part.

We probably can help defray some of the cost for a ring (sounds like they are more expensive than engagement rings) - worried he may be passing on an important tradition for not so good reasons.
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DS, now an ensign, (Covid Class, aka USNA Class of 2020) used a small part of his Career Starter Loan ( aka "The Car Loan" that 2Cs are eligible for) to pay for his ring.
 
I'm bringing this old thread back to life...

Does anyone have any opinion on what grade of gold to use? My college ring is 10k. That's all I could afford at the time. I do not wear it any longer, but it did hold up well. My wedding ring is 18k and I only wear it on special occasions because I am always working with my hands.

Does manyone have any regrets in their gold choice? In all honesty, I do not see my son wearing his ring much at all outside of special occasions. But I am not sure if that in itself is enough to justify getting a softer metal. I know it is a personal choice in the end, but I am interested in hearing USNA graduates' experiences and opinions.
 
Anything over 10k will dent and bend like crazy.
 
brewmeist said:
Does manyone have any regrets in their gold choice? In all honesty, I do not see my son wearing his ring much at all outside of special occasions. But I am not sure if that in itself is enough to justify getting a softer metal. I know it is a personal choice in the end, but I am interested in hearing USNA graduates' experiences and opinions.
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My only advise is to avoid overthinking it.... I know some people spent hours thinking about the details and designing the perfect ring. Others were like me...gold, synthetic star, I wasn't going to pay for a lot of extras, All of these years later, that ring has the same meaning to me as the classmate who spent double the price. I rarely wear it, but when I do-- I don't really think much about what gold or stone I used -- its the engraving (USNA and Class Crests) that are meaningful.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
My only advise is to avoid overthinking it.... I know some people spent hours thinking about the details and designing the perfect ring. Others were like me...gold, synthetic star, I wasn't going to pay for a lot of extras, All of these years later, that ring has the same meaning to me as the classmate who spent double the price. I rarely wear it, but when I do-- I don't really think much about what gold or stone I used -- its the engraving (USNA and Class Crests) that are meaningful.
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Trust me... I don't overthink anything when it comes to shopping. I recently bought two suits. I was in and out the store in 20 minutes. That included picking out the suits and getting fitted (unfortunately my new suits are quite a bit bigger than my old ones...)

My wife and I agreed that this would be a gift for our son from day one. He will honestly be happy with whatever he gets. But she is insisting that we do the proper 'research.'

The only thing we may do that's 'extra...' My father wore a ring in his portrait taken in 1943 after graduating from Great Lakes. I never saw him wearing it, but my mom gave me that ring when he passed. It's been sitting in a drawer for 12 years. We may take the stone from it and put it in my son's ring. I think it would be a great connection.
 
I have to admit I was a little surprised looking at this thread. I always thought Academy grads were all called "ring knockers" precisely because they all got AND wore their rings as often as possible.

Perhaps cultural norms on jewelry, a focus on massive and expensive watches, and other social changes (along with OSHA, safety norms, etc) have changed the focus on earning and wearing these rings.
 
USMCGrunt said:
I have to admit I was a little surprised looking at this thread. I always thought Academy grads were all called "ring knockers" precisely because they all got AND wore their rings as often as possible.
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Have you ever tried to type with a big hunk of gold on your finger ?
I wore it regularly as a First Class Midshipman; occasionally when I on active duty, and almost never now.
(I wear it to Reunions, and occasional USNA functions)
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Have you ever tried to type with a big hunk of gold on your finger ?
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Nope. Sure haven't. They didn't issue grunts typewriters and computers were not even a thing back then. ;)

Maybe it is as simple as the prevalence of keyboarding these days? That would make sense.
 
brewmeist said:
Trust me... I don't overthink anything when it comes to shopping. I recently bought two suits. I was in and out the store in 20 minutes. That included picking out the suits and getting fitted (unfortunately my new suits are quite a bit bigger than my old ones...)

My wife and I agreed that this would be a gift for our son from day one. He will honestly be happy with whatever he gets. But she is insisting that we do the proper 'research.'

The only thing we may do that's 'extra...' My father wore a ring in his portrait taken in 1943 after graduating from Great Lakes. I never saw him wearing it, but my mom gave me that ring when he passed. It's been sitting in a drawer for 12 years. We may take the stone from it and put it in my son's ring. I think it would be a great connection.
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THATS. COOL!!

Do that. Soooooo cool!! My firstie has a buddy who has his fathers stone.

Also, my firstie wore his ring the whole time we were there this weekend. In uniform. In civies. And he isn’t a ‘ring wear-er’. He must be proud. He also wore it home over labor day weekend. And all weekend long. He got the cheaper gold. And is happy.

Maybe he won’t wear it in The future. Idk. But they are proud of them now, as Firsties. Neat to see as a parent.
 
Was on the yard this weekend - saw a lot of men and women who commissioned long time ago, and more recently all wearing their rings. At the game too! It was nice to see - but ultimately it is the Mids choice.
 
ders_dad said:
Can class rings be ordered later in life?
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Oh yes. You can get class crest items in perpetuity from whichever vendor has the contract. No problem there.

USNA | Jostens

Jostens has helped craft the story of the U.S. Naval Academy into each crest jewelry piece. See all the USNA crest jewelry pieces including class rings and the NEW wedding bands!
www.jostens.com www.jostens.com

I was a bit of a non-conformist in my own college and did not get a class ring. I had no problem ordering one 20 years later.
 
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Good to know. DS doesn’t want a ring. DW is fretting. Maybe someday then.
 
ders_dad said:
Can class rings be ordered later in life?
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I graduated from USAFA in 1983 (see my crest to the left). I didn't allow my parents to help buy my ring. I learned later that my father was "saddened" by that; he wanted me to have the fanciest, most amazing ring, in celebration.

Before he passed this year he told me: "One day, when I'm gone, you'll have some money. Go get that ring I wanted to get you!! Please."

I'm already speaking with Jostens (they did our ring)...it will be epic.

It's never too late.
 
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