Class of 2024 “Class Rings” pre-order?

The only wrong ring is the one someone buys they don’t like or pressure from family. I really don’t remember any of our families really being involved at all to be honest. Also, some upgrade the setting years later. They do take a beating if worn frequently. You can see the OGs who wear them a lot and they are very smooth on the class and USNA crests.
 
DS messaged me tonight. He has finalized his choice and added a combat ring. I offered to gift the combat ring, he graciously said no. He wants to buy it. He has put thought into the inscriptions for both and has had excellent service from Zachary’s for his stone.

I never intended to be involved, happened to be there for 2/C weekend and he stopped into Zachary’s. They were amazing.
When he was considering blue sapphire and they had the gem case out I remarked on one. The employee said, “ your mom has good taste, that’s the most expensive stone in the case…..$19k “. Yeah. Mom was out like Flash Gordon. Then it was a game. Apparently I have an innate sense for gem quality. I then proceeded to select the next stones and did so in correct pricing order.

Needless to say he made an alternate choice that suits him perfectly.

The inscriptions he chose show me how this process of hope to attend, nomination, appointment, oath, plebe summer, Covid, affirmation via 2/7 and the bond he has with his mates have impacted him.

His journey, as it should be commemorated by something that speaks to him and no one else.

I tried to find my grandfather’s ring from ‘39 to add to the link in the chain ring meld but was not successful.
 
Capt MJ said:
And a client retention move for engagement and wedding rings and other items down the road.
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You know what, I never thought about that! That’s a very good point! I’m also surprised that Jostens doesn’t really market the fact that they usually make the rings for different sports championships (World Series, Super Bowl, etc.). I feel like that’d catch at least some people given the position of sports in American society. Baseball is considered “America’s pastime” after all.

I guess Jostens is also the default after all, so they probably don’t need too much additional marketing. The lifetime warranty/resizing is definitely a good deal.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
You know what, I never thought about that! That’s a very good point! I’m also surprised that Jostens doesn’t really market the fact that they usually make the rings for different sports championships (World Series, Super Bowl, etc.). I feel like that’d catch at least some people given the position of sports in American society. Baseball is considered “America’s pastime” after all.

I guess Jostens is also the default after all, so they probably don’t need too much additional marketing. The lifetime warranty/resizing is definitely a good deal.
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I went back to DH’s class ring maker to buy him his class crest cuff links in 14KT gold for a milestone event. All the ring makers keep the die and offer replacement rings and other pieces for a lifetime.

When he cleared out/donated his business attire a few years ago, paring down to current lifestyle needs (barn/riding attire, Navy wear, casual, tux, 2 suits, sport coats, favorite ties (Tomcat, etc.), he also donated cufflinks. Except for 1 set. 🙂

The USNA Alumni Assn has a list of what ring makers handled what class years.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
I guess Jostens is also the default after all,
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Other companies have done rings as it is on a class by class basis. I think that "Herff Jones" used to do monthly ads in Shipmate magazine so that their classes had a contact point for any issues. Balfour and Baily, Banks and Biddle also have made rings for some classes.




 
Capt MJ said:
And a client retention move for engagement and wedding rings and other items down the road.
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I will say that Zachary's was great to my Plebe on PPW when we bought a watch at NEX and NEX was clueless about shortening the band. Zachary's did it in 2 minutes and was super nice. When I said how much, she said just come back when it's time to order your class ring. They certainly earned my respect and I'm sure my son will go there first for his ring.
 
Zachary’s did my setting. Every time I stop in they clean it for me. I also had to have it adjusted in size and they gave me a great deal.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
I guess Jostens is also the default after all, so they probably don’t need too much additional marketing.
Click to expand...

This is also the reason Jostens has terrible customer service. I intended to buy my stone from Jostens but was immediately put off by the caustic and rude attitude of their reps on the yard. I was actually yelled at when I changed my mind and asked for an open backed ring.

I have only good things to say about Zachary’s.
 
DS paid for his stone at Zachary’s today. He said they really treat the whole experience as a special occasion and take the time to show options.
No pressure, patience, congratulations, and he said the rumor is some buy their stone there for the harbor cruise 😂
 
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Speaking of USNA class rings and stones, I had breakfast Saturday morning before the game at Evelyn’s on Annapolis St. with an AD Captain friend who had her class ring on (and her plebe year issue ratty gray sweats Navy hoodie, worn with panache).

I had never really noticed her ring before, but I was struck by the stone. I am used to seeing various blues in sapphires, aquamarine and topaz. She had a clear blue-green tourmaline, gorgeous, like a darker aquamarine, diamond dividers, shiny gold finish. The blue-green variety is technically indicolite, with varying shades along the teal spectrum. She chose it because it reminded her of Caribbean waters she saw during a summer surface cruise.

I should have taken a photo. Here’s the stone. I admit I am now in the hunt for some earrings…

FB22328F-5F20-4149-A132-55EAAD749881.jpeg
 
I saw a tourmaline stone at Zachary’s. It was beautiful. With the proper light it reminded me of the waters in Tulum.

DS chose a non traditional multi faceted yellow zircon with dark sapphire markers. He wasn’t excited before, and now he is. The jeweler said he made an old soul, timeless, non trendy choice; so that was a nice compliment on his selections.

Time has gone too fast. How are he and his besties selecting rings already? Aren’t they still in white works?
 
I wear mine daily (when not at home). I really loved what I chose as a 1/C. YEARS late, my husband encouraged me to "update" -- same basic setting but more stone less "filler."

My personal recommendation . . . which is worth what you're paying for it . . . is to skip the combat ring. If you're in a situation where you don't want to wear your ring (for whatever reason), just don't wear it. A lot cheaper!

As for your real ring, I agree with getting something you love. However, I'd also not go into debt for it. You can always get a nicer stone or a different stone or a larger stone down the road. No one in the world will know but you.
 
usna1985 said:
I wear mine daily (when not at home). I really loved what I chose as a 1/C. YEARS late, my husband encouraged me to "update" -- same basic setting but more stone less "filler."

My personal recommendation . . . which is worth what you're paying for it . . . is to skip the combat ring. If you're in a situation where you don't want to wear your ring (for whatever reason), just don't wear it. A lot cheaper!

As for your real ring, I agree with getting something you love. However, I'd also not go into debt for it. You can always get a nicer stone or a different stone or a larger stone down the road. No one in the world will know but you.
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Great advice. DH’s star sapphire was damaged years ago, and he bought an even nicer grade. Called Zachary’s, did the deal over the phone, all was done by mail. Ring came back beautifully cleaned, polished, in a nice box, with a beautiful stone.

A sponsor family daughter of ours had gone with an inexpensive synthetic stone for budget reasons. Ten years later, her grandmother gave her some large yellow topaz earrings and a pendant with a nice clean yellow topaz stone. The pendant was not her thing, but she took the stone to have it re-cut and set into her class ring. Creative re-purposing!

I did a number of things with my mother’s jewelry after she passed away. I took the 5 small matching near flawless diamonds from her wedding band, thriftily turned the gold into cash, and had those diamonds re-set with the sapphire and diamonds from my engagement ring (turning that gold into cash) to make an eternity-style wedding band to go with my plain gold wedding ring. It means a lot to me. Just to stimulate creative thought for down the road, if “the dream ring” is too pricey right now. There will be decades of opportunity to update the class ring.
 
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