Class of 2024 “Class Rings” pre-order?

Dr. Strange Love

Dr. Strange Love

Time Traveller — Blues Man — DD USNA 2024
5-Year Member
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Feb 7, 2019
Messages
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DW is headed over to the yard and mentioned that 2024 class ring pre-orders are due this week.

Where is the information on the USNA website?

Why so soon?

What is the amount due and who should the Check be made out to?
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Dr. Strange Love said:
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DW is headed over to the yard and mentioned that 2024 class ring pre-orders are due this week.

Where is the information on the USNA website?

Why so soon?

What is the amount due and who should the Check be made out to?
.
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Does not belong on the USNA website as this is organized and run by the Class of "24".
Info on this comes from the class and member of the class get informed how much, when and to whom.
 
As noted by @OldRetSWO this is not a USNA program (USNA.edu). It’s coordinated by the independent non-profit USNA Alumni Assn (USNA.com) with the contracted ring vendor and the class representatives. There is a Ring and Crest collateral duty officer, usually one of the company officers, to represent USNA and to gain approval for the crest design.

This has been going on for decades. There will be briefs, emails, advice and guidance from upperclass, etc. Let your mid brief you on the process and the money aspect. I think they start early to allow for installment payments.

At some point, one of these is created for the class:

You can also google “Naval Academy Alumni Association class ring program” to read more, including about lost rings, Bonds of Gold, etc.
 
Not sure how it’s currently done, but usually delivered right before spring break. They get put away essentially until Ring Dance. It’s definitely organized and lots of info (even before the million forms of Comms we have today). Your DD will have tons of info. If if she hasn’t looked at it, she will have it. Essentially decide the metal, stone and size you want.

Size - most women get the standard size which is larger than most women’s class rings. The miniature size used to be a very common engagement ring for girlfriends or Mids. My room mate was tiny at USNA and still got the traditional. Not trying to slander or pick a fight in any way, but for many USNA women grads we would have never gotten miniatures, as we wanted to distinguish we were grads, not spouses.

Stone- pick one from the vendor or pick one from an outside vendor and they will add it after.

Metal - pretty simple, pick the metal you want.

They usually offer miniature options for Mids to gift to girlfriends or moms. Sometimes they sell class crest stuff too. Combat rings, not common, but some get them. The ring ultimately is a personal pick. What you want, what you like, budget, how much you wear it. I still have my original. I love it. Don’t wear it often, but usually do for big class events, if I go back to USNA, or some big meetings. I wear suits daily, but usually only wear it for bigger meetings.
 
I will say yellow gold is the more traditional color. White gold will get you questions about what year you graduated from USAFA, in my anecdotal observations. Enlisted rings of various kinds are also usually silver.

Agree with Hoops though - get what calls to you and what you think you continue to enjoy wearing either daily or on special occasions.
 
Visited Zachary’s in DTA 2/C weekend and DS has ideas about what he wants.
Yesterday he went back and reserved the stone he selected and side stones and he will order the gold band from Jostens this week.
He wants to pay for it himself. I would like to have helped out, but bad timing having just closed our business. Zachary’s staff was amazing. And if he pays for the stone in full prior to 1 November he gets 25% off.
 
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Capt MJ said:
I will say yellow gold is the more traditional color. White gold will get you questions about what year you graduated from USAFA, in my anecdotal observations. Enlisted rings of various kinds are also usually silver.

Agree with Hoops though - get what calls to you and what you think you continue to enjoy wearing either daily or on special occasions.
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When I was a mid, I made the mistake of ordering the faceted Garnet (my birthstone) as within a couple of years it chipped in a few places PLUS I admired the much more traditional Star Sapphires that seemed to call out "USNA Grad" so I swallowed my pride and had it changed to the Star Sapphire and it still looks good. Haven't worn it much lately as it seems to have "shrunk" a bit but Jostens does free alterations so when I get my butt in gear, I'll recheck my size and send it in for upscaling to the proper size.
My son bought both a regular ring and a "Battle Ring" but I think that he rarely wears either of them.
 
Capt MJ said:
I always get a kick out of the port and starboard red and green stone side gems.
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My Mid seriously considered them because it makes him laugh. I told him it looks awful with his stone and he agreed to go with traditional diamonds.
 
OldRetSWO said:
When I was a mid, I made the mistake of ordering the faceted Garnet (my birthstone) as within a couple of years it chipped in a few places PLUS I admired the much more traditional Star Sapphires that seemed to call out "USNA Grad" so I swallowed my pride and had it changed to the Star Sapphire and it still looks good. Haven't worn it much lately as it seems to have "shrunk" a bit but Jostens does free alterations so when I get my butt in gear, I'll recheck my size and send it in for upscaling to the proper size.
My son bought both a regular ring and a "Battle Ring" but I think that he rarely wears either of them.
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DH has the big star sapphire and antiqued gold, a classic look.
 
@Dr. Strange Love your dd will have an app, where she can dump things in and build her preference. Lots of different options. Lots of different quality of golds and stones. And of course going to a private jeweler, you can add to the cost with special, personally selected stones. My ‘24 was there today, and extra 1k for a nice stone they wanted to sell him. Vs one from Jostens, much cheaper. Point being, lots of ways to build it, and spend it 💰 😂

My oldest son is strictly from Jostens and it’s stunning.

It’s a pretty neat experience. And the pride when they get to wear them is pretty neat to see.
 
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The funny part on the port starboard side stones… as a Mid you wear the ring with your class crest facing you. When you graduate you flip it and wear the USNA crest facing you. The tradition is your class is most important while a Mid and then when you graduate USNA becomes more important. So the most important one is closest to your heart is the tradition. So back to the stones… they are backwards at some point if you follow the tradition! Most wear the rings on their right hands. Some men opt to ‘stack’ them after they get married with their wedding rings on their left hand. All personal preference.
 
NavyHoops said:
Not sure how it’s currently done, but usually delivered right before spring break. They get put away essentially until Ring Dance.
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The timing sounds about right - I do recall that we had a little challenge (at least in my Company) where we would wear the ring 85 hours (class year) before Ring Dance, and if caught by a First Class had to buy them a soda. (Public wearing -- wearing in room/sleeping didn't count !)

Not surprised this isn't a USNA website thing...I guess in today's age, parents might get involved , but this is really the Midshipman's personal choice. I chose to go simple -- I'm pretty cheap, and really not into bling or jewelry. I think I wore the ring every day during First Class year, but rarely if ever in the Fleet, and now a days it comes out for special events like Reunions, visits to USNA, and public BGO events like awarding Appointments and Congressman Service Academy days. The truth is , it is kind of hard to type with !
 
Old Navy BGO said:
The timing sounds about right - I do recall that we had a little challenge (at least in my Company) where we would wear the ring 85 hours (class year) before Ring Dance, and if caught by a First Class had to buy them a soda. (Public wearing -- wearing in room/sleeping didn't count !)

Not surprised this isn't a USNA website thing...I guess in today's age, parents might get involved , but this is really the Midshipman's personal choice. I chose to go simple -- I'm pretty cheap, and really not into bling or jewelry. I think I wore the ring every day during First Class year, but rarely if ever in the Fleet, and now a days it comes out for special events like Reunions, visits to USNA, and public BGO events like awarding Appointments and Congressman Service Academy days. The truth is , it is kind of hard to type with !
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The hours thing was around when I was there!

Wear mine about the same.
 
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Status update: DW is with Daughter doing the class ring thing in Annapolis right now …. Daughter had time in her schedule and DW took the day off from work.

My job is to keep them both happy … plain and simple
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There are many combinations - from the crazy expensive to the very affordable. For some it's the ring of a lifetime and for others it may never come back out of the box after commissioning. Lots of chatter in FB world right now about the ring and what is right and what is wrong. Truth is - it's all good - whatever is chosen. But Yes @justdoit19 Diamonds always keep one happy :) LOL

My Mid is paying for his ring - it was his choice - I offered to help but he felt it was his right of passage.
 
DSANN said:
There are many combinations - from the crazy expensive to the very affordable. For some it's the ring of a lifetime and for others it may never come back out of the box after commissioning. Lots of chatter in FB world right now about the ring and what is right and what is wrong. Truth is - it's all good - whatever is chosen. But Yes @justdoit19 Diamonds always keep one happy :) LOL

My Mid is paying for his ring - it was his choice - I offered to help but he felt it was his right of passage.
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Honestly that’s the beauty of the ring…it’s unique to its creator. My ‘24 is building his, and it fits his personality perfectly. And is completely different than his older brothers, that also fits HIS personality, perfectly.

And not loosing sight of the significance of their link in the chain contributions…..
 
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