SourcingJan 26, 2026
Angolan Diamond Cos. Join NDC as Rio Tinto, Murowa Exit Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.
MajorsOct 14, 2016
5 Fun Facts about the Penguins’ Stanley Cup Rings
Fans of the San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers can skip this story.
Crafted in 14-karat gold and set with yellow and white diamonds, the Stanley Cup rings given to the Pittsburgh Penguins have each players’ name and number on one shank. On the other are four diamond-set Stanley cups, representing the team’s four NHL championships.
Pittsburgh—Members of one of Pittsburgh’s three beloved black-and-gold teams received their championship rings at a private ceremony held earlier this week in the Steel City.
Players, coaches and staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the city’s Heinz History Center Tuesday to collect the diamond and gold rings made for them by Jostens, the Minneapolis-based company best known for making class and championship rings.
The Penguins won the NHL championship back in June, when they defeated the San Jose Sharks 3 to 1 in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final.
Now, they have a ring to go with what is the club’s fourth Cup.
Jostens’ Chris Poitras, who talked with National Jeweler about the Denver Broncos Super Bowl rings earlier this year, divulged a few fun facts about the rings his company just made for the ‘Guins.
1. Yellow gold was used, again. The mixed-metals trend apparently has found its way into the wide world of sports.
Poitras, who is the vice president of Jostens’ sports and college division, said after years of making championship rings almost exclusively in white gold, Jostens is starting to see a shift toward the incorporation of yellow.
On the Penguins’ rings, the words “Stanley Cup Champions” are cast in 14-karat yellow gold, and the frame around the triangle on the team’s logo is as well.
While that might seem fitting for a black-and-gold team, Poitras said they also used yellow gold in the Broncos’ rings, as well as the World Series rings made for the Kansas City Royals.
He said when they made the Royals rings last year, it marked the first time in a long time that the company had used any yellow gold in championship ring.
2. There are some unique stones in the Penguin logo. The penguin himself is made of natural black onyx and his white belly is set with a pear-shaped diamond.
Players, coaches and staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the city’s Heinz History Center Tuesday to collect the diamond and gold rings made for them by Jostens, the Minneapolis-based company best known for making class and championship rings.
The Penguins won the NHL championship back in June, when they defeated the San Jose Sharks 3 to 1 in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final.
Now, they have a ring to go with what is the club’s fourth Cup.
Jostens’ Chris Poitras, who talked with National Jeweler about the Denver Broncos Super Bowl rings earlier this year, divulged a few fun facts about the rings his company just made for the ‘Guins.
1. Yellow gold was used, again. The mixed-metals trend apparently has found its way into the wide world of sports.
Poitras, who is the vice president of Jostens’ sports and college division, said after years of making championship rings almost exclusively in white gold, Jostens is starting to see a shift toward the incorporation of yellow.
On the Penguins’ rings, the words “Stanley Cup Champions” are cast in 14-karat yellow gold, and the frame around the triangle on the team’s logo is as well.
While that might seem fitting for a black-and-gold team, Poitras said they also used yellow gold in the Broncos’ rings, as well as the World Series rings made for the Kansas City Royals.
He said when they made the Royals rings last year, it marked the first time in a long time that the company had used any yellow gold in championship ring.
2. There are some unique stones in the Penguin logo. The penguin himself is made of natural black onyx and his white belly is set with a pear-shaped diamond.
On the blade of his hockey stick is a single baguette, and the triangle that forms the logo’s background is set with yellow diamonds. That triangle is meant to symbolize downtown Pittsburgh, which comes to a point (of sorts) where the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers meet to form the Ohio.
3. It’s one of the biggest championship rings Jostens has ever made. The weight of the gold used for this ring is 104 grams, which makes it one of the heavier rings they’ve ever done, Poitras said.
The heaviest of all time ever produced by Jostens was for the New England Patriots when they beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl after the 2014 season. The weight of gold in that monster was 115 grams.
Just to put the size of these rings in perspective: The average engagement ring is around 4.5 to 6.5 grams and class rings are about 6 to 10 grams.
The Penguins’ ring also has 309 diamonds totaling 8.85 carats.
4. There’s a lesson to be learned from the mantra imprinted on the inside of the ring. The inside of the ring has two separate stamps
One side documents the results of the three playoffs series the Penguins had to win to get to the Cup, against the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. It also includes the result of the Stanley Cup series, which the Penguins took 4-2
Opposite the series results is the phrase “Just Play,” the mantra adopted by a group that had a tumultuous year; the Penguins fired their coach mid-season and made a number of trades in an effort to turn around the underperforming team.
“Just Play” reminded players to focus on what they could control--their performance on the ice.
5. Jostens is no stranger to making rings for black-and-gold teams. Jostens has made rings for the Penguins before, and created the rings for five of the six Super Bowls won by the city’s football team, the Steelers. This includes the Steelers’ two most recent Super Bowl victories, in 2005 and 2008.
The company also has crafted World Series rings for the Pirates, though that’s a more distant memory, as Pittsburgh’s baseball team hasn’t won the MLB championship since 1979.
More on Majors
The Latest
CollectionsJan 26, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Celebrates 189 Years of Love StoriesThe jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.
GradingJan 26, 2026
DCA Updates Colored Gemstone CourseThe new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Watches of Switzerland Acquires 4-Store Jewelry Chain in TexasFamily-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.
Weekly QuizJan 22, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesJan 23, 2026
Damiani Group to Acquire Baume & MercierThe Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.
TrendsJan 23, 2026
Martin Katz’s Earrings Call to Mind Wintry Weather Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Names New Director of Creative, Brand StrategyElla Blum was appointed to the newly created role.
Supplier BulletinJan 22, 2026
The Rise of Centralized Sourcing in the Colored Gemstone MarketSponsored by RapNet
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Lugano Diamonds Finds a BuyerInvestment firm Enhanced Retail Funding, a division of Gordon Brothers, was the successful bidder.
SourcingJan 22, 2026
De Beers To Release ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ BookIt explores the history of the iconic tagline and the company’s strategy to redefine the role of diamonds in society.
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Swarovski Appoints New North America PresidentRetail veteran Sindhu Culas has stepped into the role.
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Stuller Names New Chief Merchandising, Marketing, Sales OfficerTaylor Burgess, who has been at Stuller since 2013, was promoted to the newly created role.
PodcastsJan 21, 2026
Episode 1: High Gold Prices, the Diamond Dilemma, & What’s NextWas 2025 a good year for jewelers? Did lab-grown diamonds outsell natural? Find out on the first episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.
EditorsJan 21, 2026
6 Jewelry Designers Poised to Have a Breakout Year in 2026Whether you recognize their jewels or are just discovering them now, these designers’ talent and vision make them ones to watch this year.
SourcingJan 21, 2026
Tucson Preview 2026: Earthy Tones and Innovative Shapes Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.
CrimeJan 21, 2026
4 Men Charged in $1.7M California Smash-and-Grab Jewelry Store RobberyPlus, JSA’s Scott Guginsky discusses the need for jewelers to take more precautions as the gold price continues to climb.
IndependentsJan 21, 2026
Delaware Jeweler Felice Morris Dies at 91Morris’ most cherished role was being a mother and grandmother, her family said.
CollectionsJan 21, 2026
Bulgari Weaves New Collection of ‘Vimini’ Creations“Vimini” is the first chapter of the “Bulgari Eternal” collection that merges archival pieces with modern creations.
Events & AwardsJan 21, 2026
Jewelers Mutual’s ‘Conversations’ Retreat Returns to Discuss AIThe third edition will be held in Half Moon Bay, California, in April.
Events & AwardsJan 20, 2026
These Are the 5 Finalists for the David Yurman Gem Awards GrantThe grant is in its first year and was created to recognize an exceptional fine jewelry designer whose star is on the rise.
ColumnistsJan 20, 2026
First-Party Data Is the Most Valuable Asset Jewelers Have in 2026Data built on trust, not tracking, will be key to success going forward, as the era of “borrowed attention” ends, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
MajorsJan 20, 2026
Borsheims Hires New Assistant Facilities ManagerHeath Yarges brings two decades of experience to the role.
EditorsJan 16, 2026
Remembering Pete Yantzer for His Contributions and His Kindness Pete’s boundless curiosity extended beyond diamond cut and he was always eager to share his knowledge with others, no matter the topic.
FinancialsJan 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Shine in Q3Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier had another successful holiday season, Richemont reported this week.
TrendsJan 16, 2026
Diane Lane's Brooch Buzzes at the 2026 Golden GlobesOur Piece of the Week is Lagos’ “Bee” brooch that was seen on the red carpet for the first time on Sunday.
