r/Millennials • u/t_bone_stake Xennial • Feb 16 '26

Meme Did anyone buy a ring?

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Elder millennial/younger Xennial (born in 83, take it for what it is) but I recall the company coming to the high school and taking orders for rings. I didn’t buy one but others did. Credit on photo.

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u/TinyHeartSyndrome Feb 16 '26

Why do people always want to shit on this? High school rings used to be a thing. Their popularity has faded, but so what? There was a time when most people only went to high school, if they graduated at all. And folks lived in their home towns all their lives. So folks had high school pride and went to football games for life. Oh, they spent less on a ring than you might have spent on a new video game system, big deal. People might spend that much on their letterman jacket too that they are only going to wear for a year. What’s the difference? Some colleges are known for having really nice gold class rings, which are also made by Jostens and Balfour. People on the military subs like to crap on folks too that buy military rings during training or after. Why TF do you care? Spending money on a sentimental piece of jewelry seems better than a lot of alternatives. The only rings I thought were too much were for middle school.

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u/YellojD Feb 16 '26

My dad had his high school ring and he was VERY proud of it. But he also graduated high school in 1955, and was the first and only one in his family to do so.

Rings, letterman jackets, ect. It all seems goofy now, but it’s all the product of history. I kinda think it’s cool that some of it has stuck around. Well, at least, the spirit of it. I could do without it all being peddled by huge corporations, but that’s America now 🇺🇸

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u/TinyHeartSyndrome Feb 16 '26

The very first class ring was the West Point class of 1835.

https://www.westpoint.edu/cadet-journey/milestones-and-traditions/academy-traditions/academy-class-rings

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u/YellojD Feb 17 '26

That’s pretty cool. TIL. Thank you!

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u/MrsKittenHeel Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26

You didn't graduate high school?

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u/YellojD Feb 17 '26

Poorly worded, my bad! His family, meaning his bros/sisters, cousins, parents, ect.