An average high school class ring by Jostens compared to a quarter. It is 10K white gold and has a satin finish.

A class ring (also known as a graduate, senior ring, or grad, ring) is a ring worn by students and alumni to commemorate their graduation, generally for a high school, college, or university.[1]

Contents

History

The United States Military Academy began the tradition of class rings in 1835.

The tradition of class rings originated with the class of 1835 at the United States Military Academy at West Point.[2] Traditionally, class rings are mounted with the wearer's birthstone, and are engraved with the owner's name, and graduation year.

How to wear

The ring should be worn on the second, third, or fourth finger of the right hand, since the left hand is reserved for a marriage ring.

According to the Complete Book of Etiquette by Amy Vanderbilt, the ring should always be worn so that the insignia faces the wearer when his or her arm is outstretched for as long as the wearer is in school; upon graduation, the ring should be turned around so that the ring faces outward, signifying that the graduate has left school and has entered the wider world.[3]

West Point however has different rules for wearing their ring. Prior to graduation, the USMA Class Ring is worn with the Class Crest closest to the heart signifying the closeness of the class. After graduation, the ring is worn with the Academy Crest closest to the heart signifying closeness with the Academy. [4]. Until recent decades, Academy graduates wore their rings on their left hand where the two wearing rules had the same effect.

Military Service Ring

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Each branch of service has its own distinctive ring they wear, denoting service members of that branch of service, each ring is distinctive, and is made to instantly associate the wearer with that particular branch of service:

Marines: Gold ring topped with a ruby, with the Marine Corps. symbol of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor atop the stone, engraved on either shank of the ring, are two moments in the history of the Marine Corps. The location of the first recruitment drive for the Marines, Tun Tavern in Philadelphia with the date of 1775 below, and the Flag Rasing at Iwo Jima with the date 1945 below, around the setting of the stone, are the words "United States Marines."

Navy (Officer): Gold ring with a sapphire mounted atop the ring, on one shank of the ring, there is an engraving of an Eagle, carrying an anchor, with the letters USN below, on the other shank, is an 18th Century Frigate in full sail, with a depiction of an atom below it, around the stone setting, are the words "United States Navy," engraved within the stone is a gold anchor, with the letters USN superimposed over top.

Navy(Enilsted): Silver or white gold with a Diamond, or a White Zircon mounted atop the ring, on both shanks of the ring, is an anchor, superimposed with the letters USN, in the corners are two five pointed stars, around the stone, are the words "United States Navy" a crest of a gold anchor with the letters USN superimposed is mounted atop the stone.

Army: Gold ring, with an Emerald mounted atop, the wearer's specality is usually engraved upon the ring, either on the shanks, or around the stone, the main engraving around the stone setting contains the words "United States Army," and the inner area around the setting usually contains the owner's specality, such as "Military Police," or "Airborne," the insigna of the owner's speciality is usually mounted as a crest atop the stone.

Air Force: Silver Ring with a Blue Topaz embedded within, with the Air Force insigna on one shank, and the wearer's squadron emblem on the other, around the stone setting are the words "United States Air Force," the Air Force insigna is mounted as a crest atop the stone.

Coast Guard: Similar to the Navy Officer and Enlisted rings, with the exception that on the Enlisted Ring is the Coast Guard Shield in place of the letters USN, and, replacing the letters USN on the Officer's Ring, are the letters USCG, around the stone setting, are the words "United States Coast Guard," an anchor with the Coast Guard shield is usually engraved within the stone, or mounted as a crest atop the stone.

Similar to class rings, but with stricter wearing guidelines, they are worn on the third finger of the right hand, and are always worn so that the person looking at the ring can read the branch of service (to the wearer, the wording will appear upside down). These rings are optional wear for all servicemen and women, as well as those who have been honorably discharged, or have retired from military service.

See also

References

  1. ^ Day, Robert (2005). Working the American Way. How To Books, p. 29. ISBN 185703984X. Retrieved on 2008-08-29. 
  2. ^ Ring melt ceremony bonds past with the future, United States Military Academy
  3. ^ Complete Book of Etiquette, Amy Vanderbilt, p. 156
  4. ^ http://www.west-point.org/family/bicent/rings.html, CLASS RINGS, MINIATURES, AND A-PINS
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_ring"


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