One team will earn the right to create their own this weekend, a gaudy symbol of excellence that looks more like a little trophy than a piece of jewelry that fits on a finger. Not many Super Bowl rings wind up on the open market, but as time and former players pass into history, you can find what for collectors is the ultimate connection to America’s most watched sporting event.
In its upcoming Platinum Night event, Heritage Auctions will offer six Super Bowl rings dating back more than 40 years.
They include:
A Miami Dolphins Super Bowl VIII ring presented to Offensive Tackle Wane Moore (est. $40,000+). While the ’72 Dolphins get all the glory for their “perfect season”, repeating was even more of a challenge the next year. The 1973 Dolphins lost two regular season games but dominated in the post-season. The ring has two diamonds set in the blue stone of the ring face, to symbolize the team’s back-to-back championships.
A 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl X ring originally owned by safety Jimmy Allen (est. $30,000+). Super Bowl X saw the Steel Curtain in its prime. A battle of the 1970s titans saw the Steelers beat Roger Staubach and the Cowboys in their first championship meeting. The ring has two large diamonds around a miniature Lombardi Trophy, with text reading “1975 Pittsburgh Steelers World Champions.”
Ralph Neely’s Super Bowl VI ring (est. $30,000+) dates to the 1971 season, in which Tom Landry’s team beat the Dolphins 24-3 a year before Miami went undefeated. This is a ‘holy grail’ type item for Cowboys collectors in that it symbolizes the team’s first championship. Neely broke his leg in a motorcycle accident during the season and missed the Super Bowl.
1977 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XII ring originally presented to running back Doug Dennison (est. $30,000). This one dates from the first Super Bowl ever played indoors. The Cowboys’ defense forced eight turnovers by Denver in a 27-10 win at the Superdome in New Orleans. The two stars on the ring honor Dallas’ two titles to that point. There’s no shortage of diamonds on this ring, befitting the newfound glitz of the club that liked to call itself “America’s Team.”
Washington Redskins Super Bowl XXII ring originally earned by defensive tackle Dean Hamel (est. $20,000+). Washington won this game 42-10 but few remember they were actually behind 10-0 at one point. Among the first glitzy rings, this one has 140 points of diamonds forming a figural football between the two Lombardi Trophies won by Washington at the time. On the face are two rows of 15 red rubies and the words, “Washington Redskins, World Champions 1987.”
Super Bowl XXXV ring from Baltimore Ravens fullback Chuck Evans (est. $20,000+). The Ravens finally brought championship glory back to the Charm City in 2000-01 and Super Bowl rings went to a new level of bling as a new millennium arrived. From the description, “A logo Raven is crafted from gold and gemstones on the face, set upon a miniature football field composed of even more diamonds. “World Champions” stands in raised text at the sidelines, ringed by yet another circumference of diamonds.”
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