Rings are in!!!

Heatherg21

USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
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Jun 26, 2019
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DS just called and sent pictures. Rings have been delivered to the Class of 2024. Milestone day.

Also, the USAA renter's insurance that I have been hounding him about for 3 years is now activated. He signed up this morning. About damn time. Turns out that when your kid pays for their own special thing, they are willing to pay for the insurance to secure it. Crazy how that works.
 
DS just called and sent pictures. Rings have been delivered to the Class of 2024. Milestone day.

Also, the USAA renter's insurance that I have been hounding him about for 3 years is now activated. He signed up this morning. About damn time. Turns out that when your kid pays for their own special thing, they are willing to pay for the insurance to secure it. Crazy how that works.
just awesome!!! congrats to your son!!! cant wait to see pics!!!
 
Glad to hear some are still excited about rings. Our entire class was (well, probably a few exceptions but not too many). Now, I get the impression many have less than zero interest.

IMHO, whether you wear it every day or only at reunion or not at all, you've earned it.
 
Even if they say they aren’t interested, I’m pretty certain they are.

I got an IMMEDIATE FaceTime, before lunch, on a school day. That doesn’t normally happen, especially during the day. He showed me mine and he showed me his roommates. A few other buddies in the room showing theirs to their group.

No pics until the right stone is put in.

I know from my oldest, how proud they are. Wearing them at events, commissioning, weddings.

A nice way to kick off Spring Break 💯 ⭐
 
Mine sent me the picture with the placeholder stone. He walked it over to Zachary's this afternoon so they can set the stone and the divider stones. The stone he chose is gorgeous. We offered to help him with some funds, he wanted to do it all on his own from savings.

He also elected to get the combat ring. Pretty cool looking.

It's real now!
 
Lots of parents on the FB pages last year warned that Josten's "upsizes" the rings. I warned DS. I told him to go with his High School Class ring and have them measure it and use that size. He did and they gave him some BS about it being oval and not round like the USNA ring. Well, he got it yesterday and it's too big! Now he has to pay to have it sized. A warning to future classes: Don't let Josten's talk you into sizing up.
 
Here is my Mids Bancroft granite combat ring. His gold class ring is at Zachary’s, getting his stone placed.

This is stunning. So proud of them for reaching this milestone!!

Fyi, tradition holds that they cannot wear them until after they are dipped in the waters from the seven seas. Which is done at their Ring Dance in May.E97D9E1F-2EA2-49D8-89B2-A454FF53E6E6.jpeg
 
Lots of parents on the FB pages last year warned that Josten's "upsizes" the rings. I warned DS. I told him to go with his High School Class ring and have them measure it and use that size. He did and they gave him some BS about it being oval and not round like the USNA ring. Well, he got it yesterday and it's too big! Now he has to pay to have it sized. A warning to future classes: Don't let Josten's talk you into sizing up.
Jostens is coming back in a few weeks to resize kids who need it. Many are too big. It's all free of charge. Beat Army!
 
It actually is “waters from the seven seas.” There is a big demijohn of sea water in the Commandant’s Operations Officer’s area. Alumni collect the water.

DH’s ring has been dipped twice. A 2/c sponsor daughter’s Ring Dance date got major fried the week before and was on restriction. DH was mobilized, put on his tux, mini wings of gold, mini medals and polished up his ring (star sapphire in antique gold) and escorted her to Ring Dance. Great pic of them under the big ring at the binnacle holding the seawater. He of course submitted the pic to the SHIPMATE alumni magazine to note his ring had now been double-dipped. His first date had been the daughter of the Supply Corps captain on the Yard. Sadly, after stepping up, he was not included on the booze cruise afterwards…🤣
 
What's the gouge behind the "Combat Ring." Didn't have the option back in the day. Is it simply a less expensive or less flashy version of the real ring ? While that make sense, I wonder whether it results in increased wearing of the ring after graduation ? Seems that many of the occupational risks of wearing a ring are the same regardless of what it is made of or cost.
 
What's the gouge behind the "Combat Ring." Didn't have the option back in the day. Is it simply a less expensive or less flashy version of the real ring ? While that make sense, I wonder whether it results in increased wearing of the ring after graduation ? Seems that many of the occupational risks of wearing a ring are the same regardless of what it is made of or cost.
Supposedly it is the "beater" version to wear daily, so the fancy one stays pristine.

Secretly, I see it as a test to confirm DS isnt nearly as frugal with his pay as he makes it seem. (as if the extra bling from the DTA jeweler wasnt enough proof)
 
What's the gouge behind the "Combat Ring." Didn't have the option back in the day. Is it simply a less expensive or less flashy version of the real ring ? While that make sense, I wonder whether it results in increased wearing of the ring after graduation ? Seems that many of the occupational risks of wearing a ring are the same regardless of what it is made of or cost.
I was surprised it’s the same size. I thought it would be smaller.

As far as I know, it’s a ‘daily’ choice. Less ‘blingy’. The other thing I know is that is a relatively small ‘upcharge’ to the order. So probably a marketing thing, too.

Honestly? I can’t see either of my guys wearing it daily. Maybe they will, someday. I actually prefer the look/meaning behind the combat (Bancroft granite. Not chopped from the walls, but from the same quarry, as I understand it).

I wonder when the item started?
 
It’s a marketing thing, and calling it a combat ring (the well-dressed warrior? the perfect accessory for a firefight? showcase your school while in harm’s way?) is the hook. Somewhere along the way it became a thing. It wasn’t around in the 70’s, I don’t think. Someone will know.

If you’ve dropped several thousand on a ring, you may want to leave it locked up ashore at home when you deploy, take the combat ring for mess nights ashore in foreign ports.
 
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Now I’m learning about the Combat ring too … DD just told me that she got that one as well …

… and what’s with the Granite in the Combat ring? … I think I like the idea …

She’s bringing both of them home later this afternoon/evening to show me …
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DS also got the combat ring. Or, less 'blingy' ring. It wasn't pricey per se and Josten's offered it as an add on to the dress ring order. He was able to design it the way he wanted, and it has a different inscription than the dress ring. Both have the class and USNA crest.
thumbnail_Resized_20230309_114448.jpg
 
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Now I’m learning about the Combat ring too … DD just told me that she got that one as well …

… and what’s with the Granite in the Combat ring? … I think I like the idea …

She’s bringing both of them home later this afternoon/evening to show me …
.
Bancroft Granite! A piece of home. Always. It’s my personal fav. Not that I have a vote but I think it’s neat.
 
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