# Do you wear your engineering ring? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583 "2008-11-07T03:13:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ice\_Machine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Ice\_Machine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Machine)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/21 "2008-11-07T17:16:24Z")
Yep, I wear mine all the time. I’m a Canadian who did my undergrad at Waterloo but live in the States now. I 've only met a couple Americans with them who I originally mistook for Canadian engineers because of the ring. I have had a couple scares where I thought I lost it. Once I lost it and my wife couldn’t understand why I was so freaked out. I have one of the hand hammered ones, not machined, and didn’t want to have to get a replacement. Turns out I must have been playing with it at night and dropped it behind the bed. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/22 "2008-11-07T17:54:30Z")
I lost mine on graduation weekend. ETA: That’s the weekend we got it. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/23 "2008-11-07T20:24:28Z")
Most of the engineers I work with (male and female) wear theirs all the time (or at least all the time at work, that is) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/24 "2008-11-07T21:15:36Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Every engineer I know has the ring. As has already been said, it’s a big deal here. I’ve met Canadian engineers with the ring, but never an American. I would think it’s because a pinky ring has negative connotations in the United States; in some areas, it’s a fashion that’s associated with working-class Italians, or flashy Borat-type immigrants. (“Look at my ring! We go to discotheque and meet lovely ladies with the big breast to take home, yes?”) ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/25 "2008-11-07T22:37:58Z")
I graduated with an engineering degree, and I know lots of engineers. Chemical, mechanical, electrical. An engineering ring was never even mentioned when I was in school, and I don’t know anyone who wears one. We all graduated late 80’s, early 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/26 "2008-11-07T23:03:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s a big hairy deal in Canada, for some reason. It is, and I came very close to not attending the ring ceremony at all because of my distaste for some of the culture that seemed to surround it. (In fact, I wrote up a [very long discussion](http://wolfstu.livejournal.com/277038.html) of my reasoning.) In the end, I decided to participate, and to _not be a jackass_ like some of my contemporaries. To answer the OP: I do wear it, within boundaries. I basically wear it with my day-to-day clothes and with formal wear and my military uniform. I don’t wear it when doing hands-on work, when wearing ‘work clothes’ (including my flying suit and combat dress), when flying airplanes or supporting a flying operation in another capacity, when sleeping, bathing, etc. I don’t brag about it, draw attention to it, knock it together with somebody else’s, or otherwise act in a way that suggests it’s a symbol of pride or superiority or exceptionality. Some, of course, do, and are keen to point out that they have one. They are, IMO, missing the whole point of the thing. (Oh, and for reference, I’m from Canada and studied engineering there.) ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/27 "2008-11-07T23:12:00Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I’m sure you can. I’d contact the Rice Campus Store. Actually, here’s a link: > [Student Activities | Rice Student Center | Rice University](http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~stact/rings.html) Cool - thanks! 🆒 I’m trying to justify buying some Rice swag for our infant daughter. Lord knows, there aren’t too many places to buy Rice stuff around here without going straight to the source… ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/28 "2008-11-07T23:15:43Z")
No, I had the opportunity to get one at graduation and couldn’t understand why I would ever wear one. Until this thread I hadn’t thought about it once and I think that’s a good sign I made the right decision. I also didn’t get a class ring I figured my conference championship ring would work instead but its just too gaudy but I’m not much of a ring guy anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/29 "2008-11-07T23:24:41Z")
Do they do something cool when you press them together and shout out the magic phrase? ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/30 "2008-11-07T23:37:31Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Do they do something cool when you press them together and shout out the magic phrase? Yes, they give you the power to [wreak havoc](http://www.civeng.carleton.ca/Exhibits/Quebec_Bridge/intro.html). (The collapse of that bridge, _twice_, and the resulting cost in lives was, in a broad, cultural way, part of the motivation for setting up this whole custom of pledging to be diligent in engineering.) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/31 "2008-11-08T00:11:07Z")
It was only recently that I found out that the slightly weird rings that I had seen some guys wearing was an engineering ring. Now that I know, I think it’s cool. They are fairly distinctive without being even a little ostentatious. Of the engineers I know, they always wear those. Actually, everyone I know with university graduation rings wears theirs, not just the engineers. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/32 "2008-11-08T00:29:41Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > Cool - thanks! 🆒 > > I’m trying to justify buying some Rice swag for our infant daughter. Lord knows, there aren’t too many places to buy Rice stuff around here without going straight to the source… Is the Rice ring distinctive? A large percentage of MIT grads wear the brass rat, I think because it doesn’t look like other college rings. I wear mine. Is the engineering ring something about being a PE? I’ve never heard of it. Next time when we’re in a meeting together, I’ll have to check if my friend who is an engineering prof. at McGill has one. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/33 "2008-11-08T00:35:49Z")
I never heard of an engineering ring till this thread, and I graduated in 1979. But even if I had, I can’t imagine I’d have gotten one. People get weird when they find out I’m an engineer, so I don’t generally bring it up. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/34 "2008-11-08T00:42:05Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Is the engineering ring something about being a PE? I’ve never heard of it. Not really. Graduates go through a ceremony called the ‘Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer’, at or about the time of their graduation. You don’t become a Professional Engineer for some time after, and in fact many engineering grads go on to work in engineering but not obtain the P.Eng certification. The ring is neither a requirement for, nor a demonstration of, P.Eng status. From [here](http://ironring.ca): > [@The Iron Ring website](#): > > The Iron Ring has been registered and may be worn on the little finger of the working hand by any engineer who has been obligated at an authorized ceremony of the Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer. The ring symbolizes the pride which engineers have in their profession, while simultaneously reminding them of their humility. The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of the engineer’s obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct. It is not a symbol of qualification as an engineer - this is determined by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies. _Edited to add_: These comments apply to the Canadian custom, not any which may take place elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/35 "2008-11-08T01:39:55Z")
How much did your rings cost? Several people in this thread have mentioned being happy they didn’t waste their money on it, but mine was like 10 dollars (literally) in 2006 so it’s comparable to a takeout meal. Mine is just a small stainless steel ring with my university initials engraved on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/36 "2008-11-08T01:42:22Z")
In my experience (engineering degree from U.S. university, practicing structural engineer in US for 10 years) the engineering rings are not common in the U.S. I only met 3 engineers with rings: two were Canadians and the other was from Boston. From what the Boston engineer said, the ring is not uncommon in New England. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/37 "2008-11-08T01:48:17Z")
> [@dgrdfd](#): > > I think it’s kind of cool. Do you (not necessarily you, RickJay, but the board as a whole even though I would like your opinion) think it’s pretentious and silly? Not any more than any other in group’s rituals. Apropos of nothing, I’ve now met two engineers who said - honestly, I am not making this up - “Engineers do not make mistakes.” But they seem to be the rare exception. Perhaps they had an allergic reaction to iron. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/38 "2008-11-08T02:34:39Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I never heard of an engineering ring till this thread, and I graduated in 1979. But even if I had, I can’t imagine I’d have gotten one. People get weird when they find out I’m an engineer, so I don’t generally bring it up. I thought we’d talked about it in some of those old threads regarding the use of the term “Engineer”. Back before **Una** had a different screen name. > [@dgrdfd](#): > > How much did your rings cost? Several people in this thread have mentioned being happy they didn’t waste their money on it, but mine was like 10 dollars (literally) in 2006 so it’s comparable to a takeout meal. Mine is just a small stainless steel ring with my university initials engraved on the inside. Mine was included in the price of the ceremony; also just a small steel ring and not engraved at all. > [@RickJay](#): > > Apropos of nothing, I’ve now met two engineers who said - honestly, I am not making this up - “Engineers do not make mistakes.” But they seem to be the rare exception. I’ve met engineers like that. I don’t care to do any work with them. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/39 "2008-11-08T02:46:00Z")
Mine also cost $10, IIRC. It’s not engraved, being of the same design as the one illustrated [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DSC03798_Cropped.jpg). “Engineers don’t make mistakes” is an awfully stupid thing to say. I can only hope it’s childish jingoism and not sincere. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583/40 "2008-11-08T03:09:15Z")
I’ve got my MSEE and don’t have one of those rings. The Canadian one looks cool though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wear-your-engineering-ring/471583.md?page=3)