May 18, 2015
Continuing my blogs about the specific pairs of championship rings from every single Super Bowl, here’s the next special pair: an in-depth examination of the two championship rings from Super Bowl XXI.
First, I need to apologize that the championship ring picture contains my web-site address. If I didn’t add it to the picture, other web sites would “steal” my photos, especially those eBay sellers who pop up and make the cheap replicas in China. Championship ring collectors often ask why in the world does Jostens, Balfour, and Tiffany allow this? No one seems to know why.
The fakes and replicas don’t look anywhere near as good as authentic championship rings. These “sellers” showcase pictures of authentic championship rings and then have the nerve to claim that the pictures are of their actual replica championship rings!
Almost every picture in my superbowl ring series is photographed from my very own personal championship ring collection. As readers of this blog know, these rings are pretty darn rare and just a fraction of championship rings ever wind up in the hobby. That means they are seldom (or often never) photographed in pairs from the specific historic Super Bowl games that I’m blogging about.
So, please forgive my desire to keep these photos from being misused. When I do post images that are found on the internet, I promise, I won’t place my web-site address in the image.
The ring on the left is the New York Giants Super Bowl Ring from their 1986 season. Unlike the two Super Bowl rings preceding this example, the Giants ring contains less bling but more elegance. This is the first Super Bowl ring where the Lombardi trophy has such a prominent role in the championship ring and it’s a perfect theme for the Giant’s first Lombardi trophy.
A large football shaped, marquise diamond is featured in the Lombardi trophy and 9 smaller diamonds complete the trophy.
The Giants Super Bowl XXI ring shown above, was designed and manufactured by Jostens in 10K solid yellow gold. The ring weighs in at approximately 45 grams.
Like so many other winning Super Bowl rings, the Giants Super Bowl XXI ring is extremely rare and in high demand by loyal Giant fans and highly coveted by championship ring collectors. I only know of two player rings that have sold publicly and both were sold around 10 and 13 years respectively. Both rings sold slightly above 18,500. Since the time of the transactions, championship ring prices have climbed and you can expect the next Super Bowl XXI ring at auction to sell for considerably more.
In a tradition that continues to this day, the team that loses the Super Bowl is recognized as a champion of their respective conference. The Denver Broncos 1986 AFC championship ring shown above weighed in at 44 grams. It contains 13 diamonds and the “A” stands for “AFC” champions. While there is no NFC championship ring with an “N”, the Buffalo Bills went on to make another AFC championship ring with an “A” featured in diamonds.
The player ring shown above was sold to me privately. I know of only one player ring that sold at auction – in 2014. That ring sold for $4,780.00.
The Broncos AFC championship rings were designed by Jostens in 10K yellow gold.
With Jostens making both of these championship rings, and both teams choosing a blue onyx stone, it appears that the stone color is identical in the two rings. This is the first example where both championship rings from the same season match. I love this photo since I was able to match the blue type and the rings look identical in gold and blue coloring. Four seasons later, the Giants went with a slightly lighter blue stone and the Bills (also a team that has blue in their official colors, opted to go with a red stone).
Please know that I buy super bowl rings and buy championship rings as well. So reach out and let me know if you have a championship ring you want to sell.
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