High School Ring Question

[canwegosoon]

I would give them 3 choices
1) you buy a HS ring...no other rings ever.
2) you don't buy the HS ring...but offer to buy the college ring instead(I wear mine all the time-and start saving)
3) Ask if they would like other jewlery purchase instead (gemstone ring, cross, gold necklace/diamond earings)...tell them you will match the cost of a ring(or less-not more).

Good Luck...kids love them, but I have noticed less and less HS kids getting them. I never wear my HS ring

 

[antmaril]

Go to walmart.com

We got my son's class ring at walmart.com and it was much cheaper than the ones offered through the school. I'm glad I didn't drop a bunch of $$ on that ring because he graduated from high school last year and NEVER wore it.

 

[almacdonald]

I'd say suck it up and buy the kid a ring! Heck, with all that they go through with exams, homework, peer pressure etc. you should be happy that your children are graduating! Tell them that if they REALLY want a class ring you will buy it as a graduation present. I'm not saying that you should let them pick out the most expensive ring, maybe set a limit. It's a personalized souvenir from the formative years of their lives. Wether they wear it or not they will have it forever (or until they lose it!) I got a HS ring and wore it for a couple of years... still might, if it fit! Now I wear a professional ring (which was a convocation gift from my parents). Chances are, if they're asking for a ring it's because they'll want to wear it.

 

[EthansMom]

My parents bought my class ring for my Christmas gift during my Freshman year and I wore it for 3.5 years. We bought it from Zales, I think, for less than the Jostens' price.

I agree with the other posters. Check out the prices for class rings at Walmart and Target -- the rings are identical, except for price. The kids' friends will never know the difference.

There are also some metals other than gold to choose from -- there's a difference in the weight, but if I was buying it for a kid who wasn't too careful with his/her stuff, I'd go for the cheaper metal.

If your DS aren't willing to consider Walmart or Target rings, then let them buy their own. But, personally, I would be willing to buy my kids the Walmart version.

 

[nsyncraider17]

Definitely don't buy class rings through a catalog from the school. I got one either my sophomore or junior year (I already forget ) and my parents paid for half of it as a birthday present. We went to a local jeweler, I picked out a pretty standard ring, and I believe it cost about $200. It definitely would have been more if we had ordered from the catalog I got at school.

I wore mine for the rest of high school and for a little while after graduation. I would probably still wear it, but my grandmother gave me a ring for graduation that I like better, and I don't like to wear a lot of jewelry. I do see a lot of students in my classes at college who still wear their class rings.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Mine was a graduation present. I wore it for my first semester of college then it went into my jewelry box. I haven't worn it since. It is a symbol of who I was then and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

ETA: If you go to the company website you can find them cheaper then through the catalog. Or you can go to an outside company and get it made cheaper too.

 

[momof2inPA]

My son lost my high school ring in the yard.

 

[Chicago526]

I wore mine for about 5 years after high school, so I did get a lot of use out of it. It does sit in my box now, but it does represent a lot of memories for me and I'll never get rid of it. I got the "standard" model which was $80 or so I believe (this was in 1993). But you could spend upwards of $500 or more if you wanted it to be real silver or gold and have a real gem stone in it.

Well, if they really want one but you really think it's a waste, split the differance and tell them you'll pay for half of it. It won't cost you as much and they'll have something invested in it, so they are more likely not to lose it or stop wearing it for lack of interest.

 

[horseshowmom]

Here's another vote for Wal-Mart rings. Don't get the ones that are real gold, and you'll save a ton of money.

Around here, kids order them during their 10th grade year (spring semester). Since we homeschooled, I let DD get hers when she started 9th grade and paid less than $100 (much less as I recall). I knew she wouldn't wear it past high school and was NOT going to pay a lot for it (most teenagers wouldn't be caught dead wearing a high school ring at college).

Right now, her class ring is the same place mine and DH's are - in the bottom of our jewelry boxes.

DH did get a college ring (it is real gold), and he wears it everyday - loves it!

 

[HayGan]

It is kind of one of those things that you have to do as a teenage but you will forget all about it when you are an adult. When I was in HS most of the kids ended up wearing their boyfriend/girlfriend's ring. I can remember wrapping all of that angora wool around by boyfriend's ring so it wouldn't fall off of my finger. He wore mine on a chain. I never wore my ring after high school.

However, I did get a college ring and I wear that every day

I have the minature ring

 

[Rock'n Robin]

As a teacher in a high school I can tell you that the number of kids who buy rings has gone way down over the last 5-10 years. I rarely see kids with rings. Sure I have one, and I have DH's with it in my jewelry box, but we graduated 25 years ago and things are different now. With all of the $ you have to spend on kids in high school I don't want to spend $200 on something that sits in a box. Shoot, yearbooks at our HS are $50!
Robin M.

 

[Fire14]

I bought mine from jewery store my freshman yr. I still have it and to this day wish I had gone with a my dressy type. I wore mine up until the ring started wearing and part of my color shield fell out.

 

[aprilgail2]

My parents paid for mine//....I never knew anyone who's parents made them pay for their own class ring to be honest.

 

[In a hurry]

I've never known a guy to wear his past graduation. It seems kind of dorky to me. I wore mine thru HS, but it has lived in the jewelry box since. I'd tell them if they want it they should buy it. If they decide to, then I would help pay for it. See how much it really means to them.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I had one, can't remember how many times I wore it, but honestly it was probably only a handful. Once I graduated, I was so happy to be rid of high school, I didn't give it another thought. Now that I am older, my yearbooks are my treasured mementos of those years. I never missed my ring, which I left in a drawer at my parents' house when I moved out and promptly forgot all about. The house has long since been sold and it probably got thrown out with some other junk.

So for me, it was a complete waste of money. If your kids really want one that bad, I'd buy it for them sooner rather than later. Then, they'll have more time to wear it while they are still in high school, and there is less possibility of it losing it's novelty so quickly.

 

[Mandabella]

My mom thought it was a waste, but I really wanted it. So, I paid for my own class ring and wore it for about 3 years. By the time I got to college, I realized mom had a point and didn't order a college ring. I ended up with an engagement ring for college graduation anyhow....much better!

 

[bigolive9]

I never wanted one. My mom asked several times if I was sure I didn't want it, and was even willing to look into other vendors for one, but I really had no desire. My mom still wears hers every day. I don't know that it is for nostaglia as much as it is just out of habit. My husband has a class ring and a band ring (state fair champion commemorative ring). He says that he knows where they are. When I asked, he said, "In my jewelry box." I said, "Oh, you have a jewelry box?" He said, "Yes, somewhere. I am not sure where it is." Obviously he doesn't wear his rings.

 

[MagicalMom]

When I was in HS, way, way, way back in the 80's, class rings were a big deal. Everyone wore their boyfriends rings aorund their necks. How else would you know who was taken? We were so cool!

 

[Stacerita]

When I was a senior (wont say how long ago) I really wanted my class ring. A lot of my friends were getting them and I was involved enough that it was gonna hold sentimental value to me always. I paid the down payment for it, but my parents paid for the remaining balance. I wore my for a very long time, till one day I got mad and slammed my hand down. The stupid ring broke. Its guaranteed for life so I just need to get to the place and have them fix it. But I procrastinate and proabably never will. But I still have it if I choose to.

Maybe you can offer to pay a portion of it as part of a gift and they will have to come up with the remaining portion.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I got a class ring when I was in HS (late 80's) and wore it daily until I got married 2 years ago. I chose a smaller ring with a mother of pearl stone instead of my birthstone and I've gotten a lot of compliments on it over the years. DH still has his class ring, but he rarely wears it. Mostly it sits in a box on his night stand with his watch. He tells me that he did give it to a girlfriend in college to wear on a chain around her neck for a while. Maybe things have changed, or maybe it's just school by school what kids think is important.

As far as paying for it, my parents gave me a dollar limit on how much they would spend for the class ring, senior photos, prom, graduation "extras", etc. If I wanted anything above and beyond that, I had to pay for it myself.