High School Class Rings?

[mamamary]

My DH and I both had gotten high school rings. I used to wear his and I also wore mine for about two years on and off. They both now sit in my jewelry box along with his college ring. My son who is a senior wanted no part in getting the ring - Josten's is who the school uses. My daughter on the other hand plans on getting one. She is a sophomore. I think we will be getting info. on it soon and I believe they are given out in early spring.

 

[bjscheel]

DD16 just got hers. I checked with Walmart since that was where I got mine and it was about $70 cheaper. Hers cost about $100 and she is paying for it herself. Here they get them sophomore year so they'll have a few years of use during HS.

Problem with her is she has the big knuckles of DH's side of the family, so on her right hand it is hard to get on and off, and on her right it is a bit loose. I see she has been wearing it on a chain now and then, but she already has a necklace she wears EVERY day so I don't know how often she will wear them both.

I think a majority of the kids still get them here, but apparently the girls don't wear their boyfriends' rings like they did when I was in school. I was telling the kids how you would wrap and wrap embroidery thread around the ring so it would fit on your finger. And then rewrap when it got too dirty. They thought that sounded cool!

She wants a letter jacket too, but I haven't seen any info on that. I was lucky when I was in school that we found an unclaimed one for sale at the dry cleaner for $7.50.

 

[Andtototoo]

Dd did not want one.

In any case, we would not have paid for it. She would have had to pay for it herself.

I had one in high school, my dh did not. I don't even remember them being available for college, tbh. I paid for my high school ring myself and regretted it -- I stopped wearing it after high school and given how many (manymanymany) hours it took for me to earn the money for it, sheesh, what a stupid move on my part. I could have used that money so much more wisely.

 

[Vernie822]

My parents insisted that I get one. I didn't want one. Some people in HS (this is in 2009) had them, some did not. I just didn't see the point because I knew I would cherish it forever, but I wouldn't wear it after I graduated. So we found an in-between company that was more affordable than Josten's. To be honest, I'm not sure where mine is. Probably in my jewelry box at my parents house.

We did get letterman jackets as cheerleaders. The athletes were the only ones at our school to have them, and they wore them often. The only thing is, you spend a lot of money on a jacket that you will definitely NOT wear in college! Again, lots of sentimental value here!

 

[NotUrsula]

Back in the stone age I chose not to get one; I had seen my sister get one and then promptly ditch it a week after she started college; the thing was so obviously a high school ring. I asked for a regular piece of jewelry instead, and I got a lovely pr. of gold earrings that I still wear. My niece chose a birthstone ring, and she also still wears it. That was 40 years ago, and we've continued that family tradition: you get a piece of nice jewelry, but not one that literally symbolizes your past -- we prefer to go with something that has more of a private meaning that will carry well into your future.

My DS graduates next spring, and his ring is being engraved right now. He and I designed it together. It is a wide black wedding band that is being engraved with his initials on the outside and his graduation date on the inside. I imagine he will wear it on his right hand for a good long time.

Also, FWIW, traditional graduation rings are always available via the college bookstore; one or the other of the usual vendors will have a book on file with them.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Seeing this thread I thought about my 1972 HS ring and where it could possibly be. Our school only had the choice from Balfour 10 K yellow gold with antique finish. Male or female style was the same design, bulldog on one side, can't even remember what was on the other side green faceted stone. Cost was $35.00

Went to the website to try and see replacement cost $499.00

I don't envy you parents. My girls both got their HS rings. They are more responsible with jewelry than I am, but I'll bet they have been lying in a box for decades. ( 1992 & 94 grads )

Rite of passage I suppose, if the student would really like one, but the college or military ring would probably see daylight more if they go down either of those roads.

Now to price out a replacement for my college ring because again no idea where that went.

 

[Fire14]

I got mine from Jostens but I bought mine thru jewelry store not school. My brother did same jewelry store not school

 

[SallySkelington]

My dad took me to a local jewelry store where we ordered mine from a company called ArtCarved. I still wear it and it's gorgeous.

 

[DeaverTex]

Mine would have been from Balfour, and it would have cost $35 if I'd gotten one. I didn't care, though, and my parents were happy with that. Instead, they got me a college ring a few years later. Also from Balfour, 10 carat gold, and it cost $110. I'm afraid to look at replacement cost now.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Mine would have been from Balfour, and it would have cost $35 if I'd gotten one. I didn't care, though, and my parents were happy with that. Instead, they got me a college ring a few years later. Also from Balfour, 10 carat gold, and it cost $110. I'm afraid to look at replacement cost now.

See my post # 46 above college ring about the same

 

[millerjmls]

My daughter wasn't interested in getting a high school ring at all. But she wanted a college ring and it's beautiful. I'm glad she waited because I doubt she would have worn the high school ring much, but she wears her college ring all of the time.

 

[belledreamer]

I knew I wanted a ring for graduation, but mom suggested that I get a regular ring instead since I likely wouldn't wear a typical graduation ring after getting married and I could match it better with jewelry I already owned. So we picked out a ring with my birthstone and while I don't wear it regularly, I still wear it several years later.

 

[lauradis]

Ohhh the class ring.

Never wanted on personally.

dd wanted one so she design it. I said I would pay x amt if she came up with x amt (which was less then 50 for her)

before I get flamed for this

She was my give me child. If she didn't put some of her own money into things we bought it was on the floor, lost, forgotten.

She decided it wasn't worth her money.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I can't remember what company my school used (class of '92), but all they offered was the standard HUGE ring, which I didn't like. I have short fingers and it would have taken up my whole finger up to the first knuckle. I also didn't like that the only blue stone available was the deep sapphire-ish blue (our colors were black, white, and light blue). I visited a local jeweler and went through another company; I was able to get a small, feminine ring with cutwork "92"s and diamond chips on either side of the stone, and I chose my birthstone instead of a blue one. Of course it's sitting in a drawer somewhere now and barely fits...

I just saw a post on FB from the school's 2015 Safe Grad committee; they are teaming with Wind and Fire jewelry and offering a custom bangle bracelet. It won't have a year on it, just the school name and mascot. I'm thinking of ordering one...I really don't feel a connection to HS, but A) it's unique and B) the school is closing in 2016 as our town consolidates schools.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My son wanted one so we just bought it from the company that was in the school. When it arrived, it was the wrong size so it was fixed at no charge.

When we got it back, my son wore it 3 times - once the day after he got it back, the 2nd time was for senior class pictures and the 3rd time was at graduation.

He didn't even bring it to college with him - it's sitting upstairs on the dresser in his room.

I wish we hadn't bought it - such a waste of money since my son doesn't wear it often - my husband and I wore ours constantly. Mine no longer fits but my husbands still fits him.

My son really wanted a letter jacket and I could see him wearing that all winter but the Robotics Club didn't qualify for those at the time - they just changed whatever the rule was and now Robotics Club members can get a letter jacket. I'm not going to mention that to my son - he will be jealous.

 

[maelstrom]

My parents both have class rings from high school (1974 and 1976). Neither has worn theirs since high school.

I got my class ring and cheerleading letterman jacket Sophomore year. I'm sure my parents spent a fortune on both. I ended up dropping out at the end of Sophomore year and homeschooling (via a mail program) my junior and senior years in one calendar year. So both my ring and jacket say 2004 when I technically graduated high school in 2003. I don't wear my ring anymore because I got fat and it doesn't fit (but it is gorgeous, silver-coloured with a turquoise stone and pom-poms on the side). At 28 I do still wear my cheerleading letterman jacket; it's warm in the New York winters and I'm still proud of my cheerleading days.

 

[SC Minnie]

I had a HS class ring and stopped wearing in my freshman year in college. It was cool to wear anymore. It has sat in a box ever since. When DD was in HS and talking about a class ring she really didn't care. I bought her a nice birtstone ring instead of a class ring figuring she would wear it for many years. DD is not in college and thinking about a college ring. She wants one but didn't like the designs they had. Not sure what she will do. I still wear my college ring every once in a while. It's a signet style so not 'in your face'.

 

[sndfan]

This is so current for me! My DS is a Sophomore, and is already talking about getting his class ring. He will order it in the Spring, and the Ring Ceremony and Ring Dance will be next October in his Junior year. I can tell he is so excited, because where we are from, when people say "Where did you go to school?", it really means, "Where did you go to high school?" Ha!

The alumni is very strong at his school, and everywhere I go now I notice men of all ages wearing this ring. It's an all boys school, and most of the guys get them. There is no choice of ring, just the one official ring, offered in different metals. In fact, several of his teachers also graduated from this same school and wear their rings as well...so fun!

On another note, we found my sister's ex-boyfriends ring a few years ago...I located him on FB, got his address, and mailed it back to him! He was so excited, even 20+ years later!

 

[rszdtrvl]

On another note, we found my sister's ex-boyfriends ring a few years ago...I located him on FB, got his address, and mailed it back to him! He was so excited, even 20+ years later!

That is super cool!