During the Cow Year, the Cadets are provided with the information needed to purchase of the Class ring. The details will vary from year to year, because each class ring is unique. The Class crest, which is included on the ring, will have been determined during Plebe year. Now, each Cow will need to decide what quality of gold to buy, and what kind of stone or stones to have.

For the Cadet, since 18K gold is soft and wears quickly, he or she might want to lean toward 14K or 10K. There is a large variety of stones that can be put into the ring. What stone is really just Cadet preference. Some parents have indicated that a diamond in the center of the male cadet's stone has been quite popular while female
cadets prefer the cluster of diamonds. Other parents have mentioned the stone can be granite. When it's polished, it can look beautiful and is much less expensive than many stones. Besides, it is more sentimental because it is actually from a piece of one of the West Point walls. The cadet would always have a piece of West Point with him. Back in the OLD days, some Cadetswho spent MANY hours walking the area would take a piece of concrete from the area and have that put in their rings as a stone.

In the past, some Cadets have originally planned to have their own family stones placed in the rings but decided against it because of the extra costs from the ring companies. One parent also has advised that the cadets might want to get their rings a half size bigger since their hands will expand in the summer heat.

Tradition and custom also dictate the wearing of the class ring. Prior to graduation, the Class Ring is worn with the Class Crest
closest to the heart signifying the closeness of the class. After graduation, the ring is worn with the Academy Crest closest to the heart signifying closeness with the Academy. A small problem arose with the admission of women in that the man's ring is too large for the female hand and a miniature version would connote engagement. The ring companies developed an appropriate size for the women graduates.

The slight difference between the miniature and the woman's Grad ring has resulted in the miniature being less popular today as an engagement ring.

As far as choices for mothers, most people thought it was a matter of whatone would prefer. In response to a question on this subject, one mother received many favorable responses regarding pendants. Most thought they were beautiful, less expensive than the miniature rings, and perhaps a little more practical since they can be worn with either casual or dressy clothes. They felt that they were very noticeable and they received a lot of complements on them. The mothers who had received the miniature rings were also very pleased with them and said they rarely took them off. Also quite popular were A-pins that have the West Point crest of one side of the chain and the class crest on the other side.