# How do I identify an old class ring?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 9, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106 "2011-08-09T18:20:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@yastobaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yastobaal)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/1 "2011-08-09T18:20:03Z")
I recently inherited an old gold ring from my grandmother. Chatting with her about the history revealed little other than that it has been worn by both my grandfather and his father before him. Given that this side of my family have very deep roots within east Anglia and were mostly farmers I was slightly curious about how this ring came into my family. So I popped into a local jewellers to get a better idea of its history. Though he wasn’t somebody who could do official valuations he thought it was an United States college ring, that it was 10 caret gold (UK generally is 9, 12, 15 and so forth) and the red stone in the centre is glass. Pictures [here](https://picasaweb.google.com/109704316065914043595/ClassRing?authuser=0&feat=directlink).
I do know that my great-grandfather was an engineer in the First World War (a tunnel digger, sapper?) so he could have got it somewhere in that period. When I chatted with my grandmother about the possibility of it being from the US she thought that a hard up American could have had to sell it on. But that is all random thoughts so I’m hoping that someone here could point me in a better direction so I could find more information.
---
### Author:  [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/2 "2011-08-09T20:44:48Z")
It looks to me like it might be a United States Military Academy class ring, which would make sense based on its possible origin. You can find pictures of USMA class rings [here.](http://digital-library.usma.edu/collections/photographs/classrings/) If you search for say “1914” you can find rings that look pretty similar. If you look around enough you might be able to pin down the year.
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/3 "2011-08-09T23:44:00Z")
Above the “10K” does it say “Elliott?” It’s almost certainly a WWII era military ring, probably US. We buy over our counter about 10-15 of these/year. Usually worn heavily as is this one. The marking of “Elliott” I’m not familiar with. Not one of the makers I’m familiar with.
---
### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/4 "2011-08-10T00:48:17Z")
There’s a long tradition of heavy rings which are not class rings but are sold to military or similar people as symbols of belonging.
Here’s an example for police [Galls: Uniforms, Equipment and Gear for Police](http://www.qmuniforms.com/Clothing/Clothing-Accessories/Crested-Gold-Ring.axd)
And here’s a retailer for military: [http://usmilitaryring.com/](http://usmilitaryring.com/) with literally hundreds of styles.
Obviously we’re not going to find the OP’s ring from 1914 on a retailer’s website. But I think the OP’s ring is far more likely to be the 1914 equivalent of these things than to be a genuine Academy ring. Those were relatively rare, well made, and not likely to be pawned or sold.
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/5 "2011-08-10T04:38:35Z")
It’s most definitely NOT a West Point(USMA) Academy ring. As **LSLGuy** says, it’s a ring bought by an average serviceman at the PX.
**yastobaal** —any chance of getting a better full-on shot of the design below the eagle? Both sides.
---
### Author:  [@yastobaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yastobaal)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2011, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/6 "2011-08-10T09:51:59Z")
Thanks for all the replies so far. Not having the tradition of class rings over here it’s been interesting doing my own research to fiind out about them.
> [@Baracus](#):
>
> It looks to me like it might be a United States Military Academy class ring, which would make sense based on its possible origin. You can find pictures of USMA class rings [here.](http://digital-library.usma.edu/collections/photographs/classrings/) If you search for say “1914” you can find rings that look pretty similar. If you look around enough you might be able to pin down the year.
Scanning throught those photos I can find ones that look very similar but nothing exactly the same. But thanks for the link as it was interesting looking through them.
> [@samclem](#):
>
> Above the “10K” does it say “Elliott?” It’s almost certainly a WWII era military ring, probably US. We buy over our counter about 10-15 of these/year. Usually worn heavily as is this one. The marking of “Elliott” I’m not familiar with. Not one of the makers I’m familiar with.
Yep, it says Elliott. I tried to google that maker but found no information at all.
> [@samclem](#):
>
> It’s most definitely NOT a West Point(USMA) Academy ring. As **LSLGuy** says, it’s a ring bought by an average serviceman at the PX.
>
> **yastobaal** —any chance of getting a better full-on shot of the design below the eagle? Both sides.
I’ve just uploaded a couple of pictures to better show the heraldry on both sides. But it looks to me that it’s the same design. ([here](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pLOSGL3jO_6VvUfO6uqpAg?feat=directlink) and [here](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R3RXfXDyBPBGD2VJqJR15A?feat=directlink))
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/7 "2011-08-10T12:06:48Z")
Thanks for those last two pics. I have a buddy I’ll forward them too and he can possibly id the lower part under the eagle. Almost looks naval(but I’m not saying it is).
---
### Author:  [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/8 "2011-08-10T20:46:22Z")
I gotta agree with **samclem** its a military “memento” ring (for lack of a better word). Like **LSLGuy** says, it was probably bought/sold on an army base going by the devices on the sides which are sorta West Point-ish looking, but are clearly _not_ West Point’s armorial. For a minute I thought maybe it was a strange blending that included the [West Point Center For The Rule Of Law](http://www.nyls.edu/academics/jd_programs/law_review/symposia/) buuuut…nah. (scroll down to the bottom of the page to see what I’m talking about)
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-an-old-class-ring/592106/9 "2011-08-12T00:07:54Z")
Update.
Heard from my military collector buddy today. He suggests it’s a Marine ring, definitely WWII period, specifically for the branch in charge of payroll/finance. He bases that on the design under the eagle.
So, it no doubt belonged to a US GI during WWII.
**yastobaal** –if your grandfather was in WWII, I’d suggest that’s how he came in possession of the ring. Curious if either your grandfather or great grandfather were living anywhere near a US military unit(specifically Naval) during the war.