The

Duquesne University


Class Ring

History of the Ring

The distinctive Duquesne class ring was born during the early 1920s, as Duquesne adopted the traditions common to institutions of higher learning.

The class of 1925 formed a committee that standardized the ring as an octagonal deep blue stone held in place by four corner prongs. The class of 1927 ended two years of debate among students by replacing the blue stone with the now-familiar synthetic ruby. (A real ruby of similar size would now cost more than $500,000.) The size of the stone increased in succeeding years, until in 1936, the corner prongs were replaced with a continuous metal bezel sealing it in place.  The embossed gold Old-English “D” was originally an option, becoming a standard feature of all Duquesne rings in 1938. The golden initial, oversized stone and octagonal shape make the Duquesne ring stand out from those of other colleges and universities.  The words “Duquesne,” “University,” and “Pittsburgh,” along with the graduation year, were engraved on the four sides.

The Meaning of the Symbols

Carved into the shank on both sides are the heraldic lion, book and dove from the University’s coat of arms. The lion was adopted directly from the arms of Marquis du Quesne, the French naval hero. His nephew, Marquis du Quesne de Menneville was governor general of Canada in the mid-18th century and was responsible for building Fort Duquesne and bringing Catholicism to the western Pennsylvania area. The book held by the lion adapted the coat of arms to those of an institution of higher learning. The founding Spiritans are also represented by the haloed dove, a universally recognized symbol of the Holy Spirit.


How to Order your Duquesne Class Ring

Click Here for pricing.  Be sure to mention code: AL07375-16/PA9535 when ordering to receive a special Alumni Association discount.  A portion of the purchase price for rings ordered through Balfour benefits programs offered by the Office of Alumni Relations. 


Class Ring Blessing

Blessing of Class Rings takes place each year in April, and in the Fall at Homecoming.  The April event is primarily for members of the current Junior Class and is co-sponsored by the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Alumni Relations.   The ceremony at Homecoming is provided by Alumni Relations and Campus Ministry for returning alumni who have never had their ring blessed.  Both ceremonies are open to all Duquesne graduates, and have included participants from three generations of Legacy families.


How to get your ring cleaned, re-sized or repaired

If your ring needs cleaned, re-sized, or serviced in some way, you need to contact the company that made the ring.  Look inside the band for markings that identify the manufacturer.  Balfour and Herf Jones are the current licensed manufacturers of Duquesne class rings.  Contact information for some of the authorized companies from years past is below:


Balfour
Repairs: Balfour, Art Carved and John Roberts
1-877-225-3687
www.balfour.com

Send this page to a Friend