EditorsAug 24, 2026
Q&A: Reeds Jewelers VP Genna Zimmer on 80 Years in BusinessThe third-generation jeweler shared how the North Carolina retailer is celebrating this milestone and the love story that started it all.
TrendsJun 14, 2016
5 Fun Facts about the Broncos’ Super Bowl Bling
We’ll understand if fans of the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers skip this story.
The fact that the Denver Broncos won a milestone Super Bowl in No. 50 figured prominently in the design of the team’s championship rings, Jostens’ Chris Poitras said.
Denver--Super Bowl 50 winners the Denver Broncos received their championship rings at a private team ceremony held Sunday night on their home turf, Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24 to 10 back in February to become world champions, and earned themselves the right to a ring set with 212 round, tapered and marquise-shaped diamonds totaling more than 5.05 carats.
Like so many Super Bowl rings before, the oversized knuckle-duster was created by Minneapolis-based Jostens, which has made the rings for all but 18 of the NFL’s 50 Super Bowl winners.
On Monday, National Jeweler had the chance to catch up with Chris Poitras, the vice president of Jostens’ sports and college division, who shared a few facts about the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 bling.
1. There’s a laboratory-grown stone in the ring.
In Jostens’ official press release, the company noted that the Broncos’ dashing horse head logo is framed by a “custom-cut corundum blue stone,” which Poitras said is lab-grown.
The man-made, custom-cut corundum was created specifically for the ring in order to get the color of the stone, along with the curves and angles of the horse’s head, to match the Broncos’ official NFL-licensed logo exactly.
2. The ring is comprised of 13 individual pieces.
This includes the NFL logo on one side, the three Lombardi trophies on the top of the ring and the multiple pieces that comprise the horse logo on top of the ring, which has an orange sapphire-set mane and eye.
3. This is the 32nd time Jostens has been chosen to create the rings for the Super Bowl-winning team.
Poitras noted it was a special honor for Jostens to win the Super Bowl 50 ring bid because they made the rings for the winner of Super Bowl I back in 1967.
The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 35 to 10 in that game to win what would later come to be known as the Super Bowl.
The horse head logo on top of Denver’s Super Bowl ring is set with diamond-cut orange sapphires and outlined by lab-grown blue corundum. The three diamond Lombardi trophies mark the number of times Denver won the Super Bowl.
Inscribed inside is the date Denver won the big game, Feb. 7, 2016, as well as the logos of the opponents they defeated along the way and the scores of those games.
The Broncos dedicated their Super Bowl 50 victory, and their rings, to owner Pat Bowlen, who is battling Alzheimer’s disease.
The Broncos players get their name and jersey number on one side of the ring. The eight diamonds on the crown represent each of the team’s AFC championships, and the three gold rings on the crown each of their Super Bowl victories.
4. The ring is 10-karat white and yellow gold.
This very hard alloy is used for a very good reason.
To begin with, the individuals who wear these rings--mainly, huge football players--tend to be hard on their jewelry, so the rings need to be solid as possible. Poitras said every Super Bowl ring Jostens makes has a lifetime warranty.
In addition, it is enormous. On average, a championship ring is made up
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
of 93 grams of gold, compared to the two to four grams used in the average engagement ring.
5. The number of diamonds means something.
As with most championship rings, the number of precious stones correlates to the team’s history.
On the Broncos’ ring, above the player’s name on one side and “This one’s for Pat” on the other, there are a total of 56 diamonds. This is equal to the number of years the Broncos have been a team.
Encircling the ring are a total of 30 diamonds: 15 on the north side for Denver’s 15 division titles and 15 on the south side to mark the number of games they won, including the two playoff games and the big game itself. (Denver’s regular-season record was 12-4.)
On the side with the player’s name and number, there is a crown studded with eight diamonds, one for each of the AFC championships the team has brought home. Only two other teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots, have won as many AFC championships.
This means that Denver has been to a total of eight Super Bowls, of which they’ve won three--as evidenced by the three Lombardi trophies on the top of the ring and the three gold bars on the crown--and lost five.
“For us at Jostens, it’s about, ‘how do we tell the story of the Broncos’ season on a piece of jewelry?’” Poitras said.
More on Trends
The Latest
Events & AwardsAug 24, 2026
Rio Grande, MetalWerx Host Argentium Silver WorkshopThe class, led by renowned metalsmith Cynthia Eid, highlighted Argentium silver as an alternative to gold amid high prices.
Events & AwardsAug 24, 2026
JIS Miami Opens Fall 2026 RegistrationThe show is slated for Oct. 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
CollectionsAug 24, 2026
Francesca Villa Honors Napoleon, His Empresses In New CapsuleThe “Empresses” capsule uses 19th-century medals depicting Napoleon, Joséphine, and Marie-Louise across five one-of-a-kind pieces.
Weekly QuizAug 20, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysAug 21, 2026
These Are 2026’s Hottest Retailers, Says NRFThe retailers at the top of the list offer affordable products and fun, discovery-fueled experiences.
WatchesAug 21, 2026
Bremont Names Former Vacheron Constantin Exec CMODaniel Bing was formerly the marketing director for the Americas at Vacheron Constantin.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
CollectionsAug 21, 2026
Bijules, Kamyen Serve Up ‘Topspin’ Tennis Bracelet Ahead of US OpenIn our Piece of the Week, the designers reimagine the tennis bracelet with green enamel wrapped around a strand of “Desert Diamonds.”
PodcastsAug 20, 2026
Episode 8: Diamond Industry Update With David Bonaparte & Ronnie VanderLindenThe industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
TechnologyAug 20, 2026
A New AI-Powered Gemstone Identification App Is HereFounder Vik Westermann said the app is a “starting point” to inspire people to work with appraisers and gem labs, not replace them.
AuctionsAug 20, 2026
Storied Unicorn Brooch Up for Auction Gallops to New Home The Verdura brooch, which belonged to the late Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, was sold to a private collector in Asia.
Events & AwardsAug 20, 2026
MJSA Education Foundation Names 5 Scholarship WinnersThe five students were awarded a total of $10,000 through the nonprofit’s 2026 “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarship.
MajorsAug 20, 2026
Plumb Club Elects 2026-2027 BoardSteven Lerche is now beginning his term as the youngest member to become president of The Plumb Club’s elected executive committee.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Mike Alexander To Succeed Scott Murphy as Jewelers Mutual CEO Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.
Policies & IssuesAug 19, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Embraces Dupes With Trade-In ProgramThe jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Zales Wants You to Wear Fine Jewelry Every DayThe new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.
SourcingAug 19, 2026
Vasant Mehta, a Dedicated Diamond Industry Leader, Dies at 81Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner’s Tequila Brand Collab on GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
