Ring Return Follow-up

[Compass]

   A couple of weeks ago I posted about finding a large college class ring. Now that the ring is on its way back to the owner I can share a few more details about it. The ring is from Texas A&M University and the gentleman lost it in the southern California surf in 2009. He returned the next day with a metal detector but was unable to locate it. 14 years later, on a cold, dark, wet and windy morning I was holding the ring in my hand admiring its golden sheen in the glow of my headlamp. The owner was very surprised and grateful to hear that I would be returning his ring.

 After speaking with the ring's owner I found out more about the rich tradition of the "Aggie ring". The Aggie class ring just might be one of the most cherished, celebrated and recognizable college class rings in the world. The rings are made by the well known Balfour company and, I believe that, Texas A&M is one of their biggest, if not their biggest, clients.

The Association of Former Students oversees a lost and found program and maintains a registry to help reunite rings with their owners. Their website states that there are about 60 Aggie rings reported lost or missing each month! That should give you an idea of how many thousands of Aggie rings are out there. There is even a large bronze statue of an Aggie ring on campus!

Now that I understand more about the history and significance of the Aggie ring I am really glad that I am able to return this one. 

https://www.tamu.edu/traditions/aggie-culture/aggie-ring/index.html

https://www.aggienetwork.com/news/tagged/?tag=294

[cuniagau]

Compass,

Welcome to the club who has returned Texas A&M University rings back to their owners.  Dan (NM) and I both returned rings last year and I think I watched two YouTubers who also returned A&M rings to their owners.  Mine was a 2006 ring that belonged to a college professor who received his ring upon completion of his Doctrine.  I received a really nice handwritten full-page letter of gratitude from him.  (Suitable for framing when I get the chance) 

Kudos on your return!

Joe

 

[Compass]

Wow Joe, that is awesome to hear and I am honored to be part of this very exclusive club! Thanks for sharing and kudos to you as well.  George.

[jim tn]

Great find and great returning it. HH jim tn

[rvpopeye]

60 missing gold rings a month.....makes me feel warm inside !😜

[SwiftSword]

22 hours ago, Compass said:

college class rings in the world

Incidentally, that's similar to "World Series" and "World-Famous Roast Beef" in that, despite the claim, class rings are a purely American thing that the rest of the world is mostly unaware of. I remember marveling at the absolute clonkers worn by high school exchange students when I still lived in Germany. 
 

Congrats on the find and on the successful return!

[Compass]

14 hours ago, SwiftSword said:

Incidentally, that's similar to "World Series" and "World-Famous Roast Beef" in that, despite the claim, class rings are a purely American thing that the rest of the world is mostly unaware of. I remember marveling at the absolute clonkers worn by high school exchange students when I still lived in Germany. 
 

Congrats on the find and on the successful return!

Thanks SwiftSword, The reason I said that is because I read somewhere that Aggies have recognized other Aggies around the world because of their rings. However, I think I know what you mean and have often wondered about us (Americans) claiming to be world champions in baseball or basketball or anything when the rest of the world is not considered.

[mn90403]

Did you find the ring on the beach where the guy lost it?  I would imagine a ring that heavy would not travel too far but beaches and storms can do strange things.

Thanks for the posting and the lookup.

I would hope that Aggies would have another 'tradition' of paying a hefty return/finders fee so that it would encourage more of their frequently lost rings to be returned.

[Compass]

1 hour ago, mn90403 said:

Did you find the ring on the beach where the guy lost it?  I would imagine a ring that heavy would not travel too far but beaches and storms can do strange things.

Thanks for the posting and the lookup.

I would hope that Aggies would have another 'tradition' of paying a hefty return/finders fee so that it would encourage more of their frequently lost rings to be returned.

Based on my conversation with the gentleman and the fact that the ring didn't show signs of wear after being in the intertidal zone for 14 years I would think that the ring didn't move much from where it was lost. My guess is that it sank down deep into the wet sand pretty quickly because of its weight and was only findable when the sand above it was stripped away. However, I must say that I and others have hunted the area where the ring was found many times within the past 14 years and often after major sand movement. 

[rvpopeye]

Evidence for nobody ever gets it all , there's usually something left  🤔

(For me that means pieces of lobster traps🙄.....)