Aggie Ring remains same for 43 years
By: Jessica McCann
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: News
More than 2,000 Aggies will receive their Aggie Rings today, the same rings worn by all Aggie graduates since 1963.
The L.G. Balfour Company has overseen the manufacture of the rings since 1947.
"Including current and former students, we are delivering 2,033 Aggie Rings this week," said Krista Brod, a student assistant in the Aggie Ring Office.
Changes in ownership and management of the Balfour Company occurred in 1996 when Commemorative Brands Inc., acquired Balfour.
It changed hands again in 2000 when CBI spawned a subsidiary holding company called American Achievement.
American Achievement is an entity that holds enough voting stock to influence management and operational decisions and to elect the board of directors.
Despite the corporate acquisitions and holdings, the Aggie Ring has remained the same.
"The corporate stuff doesn't change the Aggie Ring," said Director of Campus Programs Kelli Hutka. "It's the same ring since the late 1940s."
In fact, Balfour still controls the production of the Aggie Ring, a process that was updated in 1997 to create a ring from a single piece of gold. Previous rings were two pieces: the shanks and underside of the ring and the top base were made separately.
"I've witnessed the factory process, and it's amazing," Hutka said. "They hand-make every one."
Balfour remains the manufacturer of Aggie Rings and assigns Aggie Ring production to only 12 of the 400 jewelers at Balfour, a privilege earned over time and granted to superior craftsmen.
"It's the place to be," said David Collier, Balfour's director of manufacturing.
A&M is a key account at Balfour, generating more than 10,000 Aggie Ring orders every year - four times as many as Notre Dame, A&M's closest competitor for collegiate rings.
"The artists that work on the production line are honored to work with the Aggie Ring program," Hutka said.
The L.G. Balfour Company has overseen the manufacture of the rings since 1947.
"Including current and former students, we are delivering 2,033 Aggie Rings this week," said Krista Brod, a student assistant in the Aggie Ring Office.
Changes in ownership and management of the Balfour Company occurred in 1996 when Commemorative Brands Inc., acquired Balfour.
It changed hands again in 2000 when CBI spawned a subsidiary holding company called American Achievement.
American Achievement is an entity that holds enough voting stock to influence management and operational decisions and to elect the board of directors.
Despite the corporate acquisitions and holdings, the Aggie Ring has remained the same.
"The corporate stuff doesn't change the Aggie Ring," said Director of Campus Programs Kelli Hutka. "It's the same ring since the late 1940s."
In fact, Balfour still controls the production of the Aggie Ring, a process that was updated in 1997 to create a ring from a single piece of gold. Previous rings were two pieces: the shanks and underside of the ring and the top base were made separately.
"I've witnessed the factory process, and it's amazing," Hutka said. "They hand-make every one."
Balfour remains the manufacturer of Aggie Rings and assigns Aggie Ring production to only 12 of the 400 jewelers at Balfour, a privilege earned over time and granted to superior craftsmen.
"It's the place to be," said David Collier, Balfour's director of manufacturing.
A&M is a key account at Balfour, generating more than 10,000 Aggie Ring orders every year - four times as many as Notre Dame, A&M's closest competitor for collegiate rings.
"The artists that work on the production line are honored to work with the Aggie Ring program," Hutka said.
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