OT: Did you get a HS and/or college class ring?

Submitted by oriental andrew on

User mgobleu's comment in the Big Ten basketbally championship ring thread (http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/michigan-basketball-2012-big-ten-championship-ring) got me to thinking - did you guys and gals get class rings when you graduated HS and/or college? 

Honestly, I don't remember if many people in my HS class got rings, but I did not. 

I did, however, get an awesome unique super-special mystical-powered M-emblazoned class ring when I graduated from Michigan (thanks, Jostens!).  I used to wear it pretty often the first couple of years out of school, but haven't in a long time.  I'm still glad I got it, but don't wear it.  Don't regret not getting a HS class ring.  School colors were green and white, so that actually sorta worked out...  ;)

Also never bothered getting a ring when I graduated from business school.  Do people get rings upon completing their graduate degrees, too?

 

Wolverine0056

August 6th, 2012 at 3:55 PM ^

I got a class ring for high school but never wore it. Seemed like most people in my class did the same. I always thought of it as more of a memento or something. 

MGoDC

August 6th, 2012 at 3:57 PM ^

Highschool didn't have class rings, I opted not to get a Michigan one. I guess it's a neat memento but I have a ton of Michigan things already and I'm not a guy who wears jewelry so I passed.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

August 6th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^

As far as grad degrees, I feel like that would depend.  Law school, med school, I could see that.  MBA, not so much.  I never bothered getting a ring from HS or college either, though.  I'd never have worn it.

Benoit Balls

August 6th, 2012 at 4:17 PM ^

Gahanna. Originally from Cleveland (by way of Ferndale) though.

I did get a HS class ring. Don't know why. Never wore it, haven't even seen it in 15 years. I think it's in a box at my Mother's house.

No college ring. The HS ring made me realize I don't like wearing jewelry. All I wear is my wedding band, which was my Grandfather's (cool story bro)

Michigan Shirt

August 6th, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^

I bought a H.S. Class Ring that I never wore in 8 years that my parents sold to "Cash 4 Gold" or something like that to try to make up the difference. They maybe lost a $100 on the deal. I think thats what happens to most peoples H.S. class rings.

College rings tend to be a tad different and more meaningful. Actually, down here in Texas, college rings are extremely popular and a very large amount of people have them. Cool story about a friend from Texas A&M, they take the rings and put them in a pitcher of beer and then chug it before they can wear them. There are still a waste of money to me, but you can always sell them and make some money.

bringthewood

August 6th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^

I wear my Michigan signet ring and have for 20+ years.  But I got the toned down no rock ring that is normal sized and not an obvious class ring.  Just an all gold oval signet ring with the U of M coat of arms or whatever the heck it is.

 

readerws6

August 6th, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^

I got a high shcool ring, not really sure why guess it was the thing to do. Im not even sure I know where it is now. They kept trying to push Army rings on me during my time in. Hey you graduated basic, buy a ring. Oh, you made it through a year in Iraq, I think you need a fancy ring!

Bloggy Style

August 6th, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^

Never got a ring for HS, UM, or Grad School at USC.  I personally would never wear it.  As a momento I can understand it.  If the plan is to go to college though, I'm not sure I understand the HS ring.  I'd think the ring would be to commemorate your biggest achievement, which to me would be the highest degree you have received.  If I had to choose, a Michigan ring would be much more valuable to me because I identify with the University much more than I do with my HS.  I hardly follow my HS at all at this point.

ApheXtal

August 6th, 2012 at 4:34 PM ^

High school, no. Jostens tried to sell them to us around yearbook time of our senior year but everyone pretty much laughed at them. The class ring at my college is a pretty big tradition though so just about everybody got them (and yes they have separate rings for undergrad and grad - in grad school I believe each major/degree program has their own slightly modified ring modeled around a base design)

StephenRKass

August 6th, 2012 at 4:36 PM ^

No HS ring.

No undergrad ring from UofM.

Yes, I did get a ring for professional school. However, it was custom designed, is solid gold, was bought at cost (someone in the class was from a large jewelry company, and they made the rings for about 70 of us,) and while large, it isn't massive or encrusted with jewels. In other words, it isn't a huge, ostentatious thing that looks tacky. Imhe, it is always tricky to find the balance of nice things that are subtle. I've always favored quality that is appreciated by the discerning eye, but doesn't scream "look at me" to all in eyeshot. This applies to houses, cars, clothing, and in this case, jewelry.

WhoopinStick

August 6th, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^

Did not get a High School calss ring - although some classmates did.  I'm glad I didn't get one.

I did get a UM ring when I graduated.  Wore it occassionally in the first couple years, but not since.   Although its a nice momento I never wear it, so I'm indifferent to having purchased it. 

I did not buy a grad school (MBA) ring and I'm glad I didn't.

champswest

August 6th, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^

feel of a ring on my finger (so I gave it to my girl friend to wear).  For that reason, I did not get a college ring or a wedding band.  (My wife is cool with that).

y2mh

August 6th, 2012 at 4:51 PM ^

Got one from UM, but I didn’t want one from hs or grad school. Am glad I did, but it is more of a keepsake and is left in dresser.

Perkis-Size Me

August 6th, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^

I got a HS ring, wore it for 2 weeks then never wore it again. Still have it. In hindsight, probably wasn't worth getting.

Got a UM ring, and I usually wear it when I am not at work. Aside from that, I love to wear it. Granted, I just graduated so that feeling might fade as time goes on, but whether I wear it or not, it always will carry a significant amount of importance to me.

MMB 82

August 6th, 2012 at 5:09 PM ^

but it was pretty much worn by my girlfriend. While at Ann Arbor I  traded in my HS ring toward a UM ring, but then went on to grad school for my main degree. Didn't get a ring there, so the UM ring has pretty much sat in a drawer. At least it still fits.....

JamieH

August 6th, 2012 at 6:53 PM ^

Got a high school ring.  Got ugly colors.  Never wear it, and I have no idea where it even is.  Went to Michigan, didn't get a class ring.  Not a fan of rings in general anyway.

I do wear my wedding ring, but only under threat of great bodily harm. :)

rederik

August 6th, 2012 at 5:47 PM ^

Got both, HS because it was the cool thing to do, and college because it allows me to always have a piece of Michigan "gear" (if you will) on at all times. I stopped wearing my HS ring pretty quickly; but I still proudly wear my Michigan ring every day, and otherwise I'm not at all a jewelry guy. I know not a lot of other people wear college rings, but I think it's entirely appropriate (and earned) to wear on a regular basis. Plus my grandfather still wears his college ring from CMU every day, so I guess it's also a point of pride in terms of familial tradition sort of way.



When I get married this fall I'll have two rings, each for the two lifetime accomplishments I'm most proud of.



Just my two cents.

BlueMan80

August 6th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^

I did get a high school ring and hardly wore it.  Waste of money.

I did get a ring for my undergrad in engineering at Michigan with a nice deep blue stone encrusted with a block M.  Looked great.  Wore it all the time.  The ring got marred around the edges of the block M and my fingers got a bit fatter with age.  Hey, it happens.  I still have the ring and have often thought about getting it resized (only needs to get expanded a bit which was possible to do with my wedding ring), but it really needs a new stone and encrusting.  Have never checked into seeing if Jostens could fix that and what it would cost.  I always wore that ring with pride in my degree and my school and it never failed to draw comments from people...both of the good and "I hate Michigan" variety.

Has anyone here on the board done a "ring tune up" through Jostens?

WolveJD

August 6th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^

I did it with my combo undergrad/JD Michigan ring after the law firm years added some girth to my fingers. Took a couple of weeks and was done for free. Just look up their website for a contact phone number.

maizenblue87

August 6th, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^

No HS, but got a beautiful UM ring. Wore it for a few months but soon discovered that the ring's weight (I swear it weighs 10 lb) made my finger sore/tired. So it's been resting in my wife's jewelry box the last 20+ years.

mvp

August 6th, 2012 at 6:13 PM ^

Got a HS ring which I wore until I got my U of M ring.

Wore my U of M ring for 19 years untill I jammed the hell out of my finger playing basketball last November.  I need to get it resized now...

I like wearing one.  Mine isn't huge, so I don't think it is too much.  Other than that, all I wear is a watch and my wedding ring.

milhouse

August 6th, 2012 at 6:39 PM ^

Not my thing. If I had been given one for some kind of achievement, then I would wear it with pride.  But I wasn't going to buy one to show people where I went to school.  Also, no one looks cool wearing a class ring from Western...

CleverMichigan…

August 6th, 2012 at 6:39 PM ^

Michigan, yes. I picked the one I wanted with all the engraving etc and my awesomely thoughtful and generous boyfriend got it for me as a graduation present. The ladies' rings are not nearly as massive as the mens', so I wear mine all the time.

Bonus: now he knows my ring size, too

thisisme08

August 6th, 2012 at 7:13 PM ^

Its HS....your supposed to graduate, so I did not see the point in getting something that honored that "achievement".  

College:  Class rings are just to gaudy for my tastes, plus I have midget hands so it would look ridiculous.  

CRex

August 6th, 2012 at 8:29 PM ^

I agree with the never wear rings crowd.  If you want something permant, there is a nice selection of Michigan watches floating out there.  Ranging from the 45 dollar one at M-Den up to 2 grand name brand ones.  It can be tricky to find a really tasteful one, but TAG Heuer has a line with some decent options.  Also cufflinks for formal events.  

There is a 25 years of service ring you get from Michigan for working here for that time period.  That's my goal.  

MLaw06

August 6th, 2012 at 8:31 PM ^

No HS ring.  I got a college ring, but I never wear it.  I'm sure the gold is worth quite a bit now.  No grad school ring either.