Image: yinzluvsteelers.com

Holly Brubach's got a really great story today in the Times today on the making of the Steeler's 6th Super Bowl Ring, delving into the various stakeholders, design constraints, and just plain gaudiness of the thing (cheers to that!) Hard to know what to quote here, but try this on for size:

Although the Lombardi Trophy is produced by Tiffany & Co., Super Bowl rings are designed and made by companies that compete each year for the honor. Only four have produced the rings to date, with Jostens, of Minneapolis, and Balfour, of Delran, N.J., both specializing in high school and college class rings, responsible for the majority.

The contract is awarded by the team. The bill is footed by the league, with a $5,000 allowance per ring, adjusted for increases in the price of gold and diamonds and not including tax. By most estimates, the rings turn out to be a loss leader, with the companies absorbing any overruns in return for the prestige and permission to sell a line of related "friends and family" jewelry.

Read the whole thing in Super Size Me - Steelers Aren't Flashy, but Their Rings Are. And don't miss the slideshow.