The Kansas City Royals celebrated their 2015 World Series championship on Tuesday with dazzling rings that signal a return to yellow gold. The ring ceremony took place at Kauffman Stadium prior to their contest against the New York Mets, the same team they vanquished last October in a series of thrilling come-from-behind victories.
The spectacular rings by Jostens feature a combination of 2.5 carats of white diamonds and 7 carats of blue sapphires set in a two-tone display of white and yellow 14-karat gold. A representative from Jostens noted that it's been nearly a decade since a World Series ring has been designed in yellow gold. The last ones were worn by the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals.
The KC logo on the top of the ring is masterfully created from custom-cut blue sapphires surrounded by a yellow gold outline placed atop a field of 14-karat white gold and brilliant round diamonds. The words "WORLD" and "CHAMPIONS" edge the top and bottom of the ring in yellow gold.
Reaching up from the sides of the ring and framing the top is a crown motif that mimics the team's iconic logo. A row of blue sapphires sits behind the crown, which is adorned with 30 round white diamonds.
One side of the ring features the player's name atop a silhouetted image of Kauffman Stadium overlaid with the Royals' script logo.
The opposite side features the championship year 2015 set in white diamonds and placed above a baseball diamond that surrounds a silhouette of the World Series trophy. The trophy sits atop five round diamonds representing the five runs the Royals scored in the top of the 12th inning of the series-clinching Game 5. First and third bases are shown set with two blue princess-cut sapphires representing the team's back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015.
The interior of the band notes the Royals' series records against the three teams they faced in the playoffs: The Houston Astros (3-2), the Toronto Blue Jays (4-2) and the New York Mets (4-1). Also included is the phrase “Royals crowned back to back A.L. champs.”
"Today is a special celebration for the entire Royals organization and our fans as we honor the 2015 Kansas City Royals with the presentation of their World Series Championship rings," said Royals president Dan Glass. "These brilliant rings embody the sacrifices and contributions made by the entire Royals organization to become the 2015 World Series Champions. It is an honor to present this highest reward to our players, coaches and staff members."
The Royals will be giving out about 700 rings in total. That numbers includes players, coaches, field staff, full-time front office members, scouts and minor-league instructors.
Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens; Screen captures via Twitter.com/Royals.
