The United States Military Academy gave out the first military rings to the graduating class of 1835. The tradition has continued for almost two hundred years. It’s an important part of graduating from a military academy and many have special events, such as dinner and dances to honor the occasion. The Army’s military academy, West Point, is for the best and brightest young men and women in the country. It takes more than just a desire to attend, as you must be selected from thousands of applicants each year. If selected, there are four years ahead of you that are designed to make you into the best Army Officer possible. Not everyone will succeed until graduation, though.

Designing Army Rings

Army rings are a great way to recognize those individuals who complete their time at West Point and are ready to pursue their career in the Army. There are a number of different designs of Army rings, but the most popular is the one that closely resembles a class ring. There is a semi-precious stone on the top of the ring and a symbol, insignia, or emblem adorns each side of the ring. Some love to have the Army crest engraved inside the stone, which adds a beautiful accent. There are hundreds of symbols and emblems to choose from, each with a special meaning.

Other styles include signet rings, which feature the crest on the top instead of a semi-precious stone. There are no emblems on the sides, but this doesn’t detract from the beauty of the ring. There is a formalness and elegance to this style and many people find that this is their favorite design. There is also a style that combines both designs, with a crest on the top and emblems or insignia on the sides.

Add an Engraving

You can have the inside of the band engraved. You may want to put the wearer’s initials or date of graduation. Perhaps you would like to include a short saying with a lot of meaning. This engraving is a great way to show the recipient that you didn’t just buy any Army ring. You put a great deal of time and energy into creating a piece of military jewelry that is personalized and just to their liking.

Gold or Silver

Most Army rings are gold. This is one of the colors of the Army and it’s what looks best with the Army’s dress uniform. West Point does have a few rules to guide the design of their graduation ring, so you may want to see what those are before you make your purchase. Valedium is a less expensive choice, but it does withstand more abuse than gold or silver. However, valedium is silver toned, so check to make sure it is allowed for a West Point graduation ring.

In Closing

Army rings are a fantastic way to recognize a soldier’s graduation from West Point. There are a lot of years of service and sacrifice ahead and many will make a lifelong career out of the Army. This is a terrific way to show your appreciation for all that they do and will do to serve this country.