Custom College Rings

Custom college rings have long been considered a necessity by college graduates who want to show their pride both in their school and their own determination.  A college graduation ring shows that the wearer had the willpower to stick with it and complete their education.  Of course, college rings are more than just a symbol to show other people the wearer’s academic prowess.  They also serve as a reminder of all the hard work that the wearer did to get where they are.  At the end of the day, there are a few things that one should know before buying college class rings,

Why Buy College Class Rings

College class rings serve several purposes.  Before you decide which ring is right, it’s important that you determine a few of the reasons behind your wearing one.  Do you want to show off the fact that you graduated, or are you more interested in a quiet reminder of all your hard work?  Once you make that determination, you’ll be best able to decide which type of ring you prefer.  Would you like a ring that stands out, or one that is more subdued and subtle?  College class rings come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, and it’s ultimately up to you to decide what sort of statement you want to make.

Who Makes Them

College rings are made by many companies, both nationally and even by local jewelry stores.  Because there are so many manufacturers and designers of custom college rings, it can be daunting to try to find the right ring and manufacturer for your own purposes.  That’s why it’s so important to do extensive research into the rings themselves.  Once you know more about the style of ring and type that you want, you’ll be able to narrow down the field of manufacturers to a more manageable number.  Otherwise, you’ll find yourself sifting through dozens of companies, all with similar information and sales literature, trying to find just the right ring for you. 

Jostens

Jostens is one of the top designers and manufacturers of college graduation rings in the country.  They specialize in class and college rings, and college class rings are a major portion of their business.  They have been around since before the start of the 20th century, and have over a century of experience designing custom college rings for their clients.  A custom college ring is a statement, and Jostens understands that, and goes out of their way to ensure that you have the best experience possible when dealing with them.  They use the latest technology and materials to ensure that your ring is well designed and implemented, and that you receive it as quickly as possible.  Of course, Jostens does other things, as well.  They design and print yearbooks, graduation announcements, and products for athletic departments for leading schools around the country. 

V.Y.  Domingo Jewelers is another of the most popular places to design and purchase your own college ring.  V.Y.  Domingo Jewelers uses the ring-design.com website to facilitate the marketing and sale of their products.  They work with both high schools and universities to develop customized plans for each graduation year, and because of their dedication to excellence, they have become one of the top ring design and manufacturing firms in the country.  V.Y.  Domingo ships their products internationally, as well, dealing with major European universities.  If you have a plan in mind, but don’t know how to go about designing and implementing it, contact V.Y.  Domingo Jewelers and they’ll help you get started. 

RingCompany, LLC

RingCompany.com is another of the major players in the customized college ring game.  College rings are designed and manufactured by professionals who provide the skills and expertise necessary to ensure that their artwork is as relevant 50 years in the future as it is today.  RingCompany encourages their customers to join in the design process, and actively calls them to input their own references into the final design.  Because of this, RingCompany is quickly becoming one of the most widespread and popular companies in the college class rings design business.  No matter what type of ring you decide to purchase, you should consider RingCompany when making your purchase. 

What To Consider

When buying college class rings, there are a few things to consider.  You’ll need to make your decision before you purchase, and make sure that it’s exactly what you want.  If you change your mind, you won’t be able to make changes to the design once the production process has begun. 

First, consider the metal that you want.  The two main metals are white and yellow gold.  Some people even choose a mixture of the two.  Make sure that you’re matching your gold color choice to any other jewelry that you regularly wear, such as watches or other rings.  Yellow gold is the more traditional of the two, but white gold is more subtle and understated, and will more readily pair with other pieces of jewelry. 

You’ll also need to consider your stone.  College class rings typically have a single large stone, and it may or may not be surrounded by other, smaller stones.  Many students choose to use their birthstone, while others prefer the stone of their graduation month. 

There are also designs that can be placed on the ring, and even beneath the stone itself.  Students often choose to put symbols that relate to either the academics themselves, such as a scroll, or even to their favorite extracurricular activities.  Musical notes, rulers, and architect’s squares are all common symbols. 

You’ll also need to determine whether or not you want your school mascot to be on your ring.  Most people do choose to use their school mascot on one side and their graduation year on the other, though instead of the mascot, many people choose the name of the school.  Regardless of your decision, ensure that you’re getting the best price possible by researching the companies that offer customer college rings and other college graduation rings.