the ring
Order your ring by the end of the day on 2/22 to receive your ring for Ring Delivery. You'll be able to get sized and see the ring on campus from Monday 2/17 to Thursday 2/20 (see the ordering page for more details).
To see the various different materials and finishes, check out the gallery. See the ring design here!
Ring Delivery will be on May 4th, starting at 7pm, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. You'll receive your rings, as well as be able to enjoy light refreshments, music, and photobooths at this formal, black-tie event. Check out this page for more information!
history
The tradition of MIT's class ring, formally known as the Standard Technology Ring but better known as the Brass Rat, started in the spring of 1929. The senior class president at the time, C. Brigham Allen, assembled a committee to design the ring. They debated whether to feature the Great Dome or the beaver on the bezel, and eventually, the beaver won out, earning the ring its nickname of "Brass Rat."
Since then, the Brass Rat and traditions surrounding it have undergone numerous changes. Silhouettes of the Boston and Cambridge skylines were added to the side bezels, and a hacker's map was added to the underside of the ring. The traditions of Ring Premiere, where the design of the ring is unveiled to the entire class, and Ring Delivery, a formal occasion where students receive their rings, were started in the late 20th century.
The ring has been involved in hacks -- it was attached to the John Harvard statue and a cannon stolen from CalTech, and has been spotted on screen -- on Tony Stark's finger in Iron Man and on Erin Gilbert's in Ghostbusters. Throughout a century of change, the Brass Rat still connects MIT alumni throughout the years, remaing a reminder and celebration of our time at MIT.
committee
The Ring Committee (RingComm for short!) is a committee of 12 MIT students who design their class's Brass Rat and organize the events related to the ring, like Ring Premiere and Delivery.
faq
How many students buy a ring?
Data from the class of 2025: 98% of the class buys a ring. 74% buy a gold and companion ring together. Of gold ring purchases, 80% are yellow gold, 10% are white gold, and 10% are rose gold. Of gold ring purchases, 50% are 14K, 20% are 18K, and 30% are 10K. Less than 5% of the class purchases an extreme silver ring. With gold + companion ring purchases, most keep their gold ring natural, as Ultrium always has an antique finish.
Who manufactures the Brass Rat?
RingComm has been working with Herff Jones to manufacture the Brass Rat for the last decade. The rings are produced at Herff Jones' site in Rhode Island.
What does the ring look like?
Find out at Ring Premiere, where the design of the ring and the location of Ring Delivery will be revealed! Join us at Kresge Auditorium on February 16 at 7:00 PM.
Free ring?
Giveaways and other activities with the opportunity to win a free ring are announced on our Instagram (follow us @brassrat27)!
Who can I contact for more information?
If you would like more information, you can email us at brassrat-2027@mit.edu, or contact our Herff Jones representative, Jeff Quirk, at jpquirk@herffjones.com, (401) 383-0028. Also, follow us on Instagram!