{{Short description|Ring worn by engineering graduates of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology}} thumb|right|The NTH Ring The '''NTH Ring''' ({{langx|no|'''NTH-ringen'''}}, first known as {{lang|no|'''Høiskoleringen'''}}, also known as {{lang|no|'''Ringen'''}}, {{lang|no|'''Sivilingeniørringen'''}}, {{lang|no|'''NTNU/NTH-ringen'''}} or {{lang|no|'''Master-ringen'''}}) is a ring worn only by graduates of the Master of Science in engineering or architecture programmes (formerly the ''sivilingeniør'' or {{lang|no|sivilarkitekt}} programmes), at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), formerly known as NTH (Norwegian Institute of Technology).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Austnes |first=Kari |title="Tradisjon i gull og stål" |url=http://www.underdusken.no/dusker/html/9810/NTH_ringen.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001635/http://www.underdusken.no/dusker/html/9810/NTH_ringen.html |archive-date=2007-09-27 |access-date=2007-04-08 |work=Under Dusken}}</ref>
About 1,000 rings are sold per year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Vartdal |first=Ragnhild |date=2019-09-18 |title=Ringar: Eit symbol på samhald og kompetanse, eller harry jåleri? |url=https://www.khrono.no/nhh-nmbu-nord-universitet/ringar-eit-symbol-pa-samhald-og-kompetanse-eller-harry-jaleri/405488 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=www.khrono.no |language=nb-NO}}</ref>
== Symbolism == The ring was designed by architectural student Tormod Kristoffer Hustad, who won an international design competition for a symbol to represent the university in 1914.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-09-24 |title=Slår ring om ringen |url=https://www.tekna.no/magasinet/slar-ring-om-ringen/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=www.tekna.no |language=nb}}</ref> The gold ball symbolises the globe, and the steel ring and posts represent the technology and scientific advances that "hold the Earth up".<ref name=":0" />
== Design and sale == The two components of the ring are made of 14 carat 585 yellow gold and surgical steel (originally an iron alloy). As the metals have different melting points, they cannot be soldered or welded together, so the inner golden ring holds them together. Each ring is also individually numbered.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sande |first=Bård |date=2017-05-23 |title=- En periode på 70-tallet var det ikke politisk korrekt å gå med ringen. Men nå er den populær som aldri før |url=https://www.adressa.no/nyheter/i/y72a4g/en-periode-pa-70-tallet-var-det-ikke-politisk-korrekt-a-ga-med-ringen-men-na-er-den-populaer-som-aldri-for |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=adressa.no |language=no}}</ref>
The ring is sold by two goldsmiths in Trondheim, Gullsmed Dahlsveen and Gullsmed Møller.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-02 |title=Norske studenter kjøper "vitnemål i gull" |url=https://e24.no/i/bK13PA |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=e24.no |language=nb}}</ref> Gullsmed Dahlsveen had exclusive rights to production for over 50 years, and has been producing the ring since 1928.<ref name=":0" />
== Significance == Lise Lyngsnes Randeberg, a graduate of NTH, has said that the ring is a symbol of the completion of a long and challenging course of education and is particularly important for female engineers to show they can contribute professionally in a male-dominated environment.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
== See also == * Class ring * Engineer's Ring * Doctoral ring * Iron Ring * Norwegian University of Science and Technology * Norwegian Institute of Technology
==References== <references/>
Category:Rings (jewellery) Category:Academia in Norway Category:Norwegian University of Science and Technology