Class ring - wikipedia Class ring A class ring in a ring case. This ring is made of white ultrium and contains a synthetic sapphire gemstone. Damavand College class ring of 1975 A class ring ( also known as a graduation, graduate, senior, or grad ring ) is a ring worn by students and alumni to commemorate their graduation, generally for a high school, college, or university. Today class rings can be customized, from the material and style that the ring is made of to the color and cut of the gem in the center. There is a wide selection of emblems, pictures, and words that can be added to the sides of the rings and even inside the center gem. Contents 1 History 2 How to wear 3 Ring melt 4 In fiction 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History The tradition of class rings originated with the class of 1835 at the United States Military Academy at West Point. How to wear The Complete Book of Etiquette by Amy Vanderbilt indicates the following protocol for wearing of a class ring. For as long as the wearer is in school, the insignia should face the wearer to remind him / her of the goal of graduation. Upon graduation, the class ring gains the status of a `` badge of honor '' similar to a diploma, with the effect that graduation entitles the wearer to display the insignia facing outward so that it faces other viewers. An additional justification for this practice is the rationale that the ring also symbolizes the graduate him / herself : During the wearer 's time in school, he or she focuses on self - development and goals specific to the insular academic environment ; upon graduation, the wearer enters the wider world and puts what he or she has learned to work in shaping it. A notable exception to this protocol is the custom followed by older graduating classes of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Today, as in years past, Academy graduates frequently wear their rings on the left hand in observance of the ancient belief, which also underlay the Anglo - American custom of wearing wedding bands on the left hand, that a vein connects the left ring finger to the heart. Prior to graduation, these classes wore the USMA Class Ring with the Class Crest closest to the heart, signifying a given cadet 's bond to his class within the Academy. Following graduation, members of these classes wore ( and, for surviving members, still wear ) the ring with the Academy Crest closest to the heart, signifying their bond with the Academy as a whole. Ring melt At the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and at The Citadel each cadet 's class ring contains melted gold from rings donated to the respective school from deceased alumni. In fiction The Lords of Discipline. `` I wear the ring. I wear the ring and I return often to the city of Charleston, South Carolina, to study the history of my becoming a man. '' Author Pat Conroy attended and graduated from The Citadel and wrote the fictional account of a cadet 's journey at a military school set in Charleston, South Carolina. See also Aggie Ring Doctoral ring Iron ring MIT class ring X-Ring The Citadel Ring United States Military Academy class ring References Jump up ^ `` Custom class rings ''. CR. Retrieved 3 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ring melt ceremony bonds past with the future ''. United States Military Academy. Jump up ^ Complete Book of Etiquette, Amy Vanderbilt, p. 156 Jump up ^ CLASS RINGS, MINIATURES, AND A-PINS The traditional Jewish custom is to wear a wedding ring on the right index finger, and only women wore them originally. However, most Jewish people will move rings to reflect the national custom of where they live. Jump up ^ The Citadel Band of Gold. `` The Citadel Band of Gold ''. www.citadel.edu. The Citadel. Retrieved April 15, 2016. Jump up ^ West Point Association. `` Class Ring Memorial Program ''. www.westpoint.org. Retrieved April 15, 2016. Jump up ^ United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. `` Bonds of Gold ''. www.usna.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Citadel Alumni Association, Our Ring ''. http://www.citadelalumni.org/. The Citadel Alumni. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 13. External link in website = ( help ) External links Media related to Class rings at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Class_ring&oldid=802985562 '' Categories : Rings Academia American society Hidden categories : CS1 errors : external links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch 日本 語 Português Simple English Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 29 September 2017, at 19 : 03. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when do you get a high school class ring
Answer: graduation