Birthstone Meanings

January

Stone: Garnet
Meaning: Protection
Color: Dark Red

Garnets were the most popular gemstone in the later years of the Roman Empire. The gem always looks like it is emitting light, which led travelers to carry them to light up the night.

Perfect for: Students who seek passion, focus and a touch of ancient wisdom.

February

Stone: Amethyst/Ultralite
Meaning: Wisdom
Color: Violet

Amethyst (Ultralite) is said to strengthen relationships and give its wearer courage. Ancient Greeks thought the gem would clear their heads and help with quick thinking.

Perfect for: Students who seek clarity, peace and enhanced academic focus.

March

Stone: Aquamarine
Meaning: Serenity
Color: Blue

Aquamarine has a calming, soothing energy reminiscent of sea water and clear skies. Sailors brought aquamarine stones on voyages for calming purposes like getting a good night sleep.

Perfect for: Students who desire calmness, communication and inspiration for creative thinking.

April

Stone: White Sapphire
Meaning: Strength
Color: Clear

White sapphires have long been said to bring wisdom and strength through clarity and energy. They reveal talent and potential when the wearer is faced with difficult choices or circumstances.

Perfect for: Students who value clarity, determination and timeless elegance in their academic journey.

May

Stone: Emerald
Meaning: Hope
Color: Dark Green

The dark green of emerald hints at the renewal and revival of springtime. Legend says this was one of Cleopatra’s favorite stones.

Perfect for: Students who seek growth, inspiration and a touch of sophistication in their academic pursuits.

June

Stone: Alexandrite
Meaning: Love
Color: Varies

The transparent yellow-green of alexandrite transforms in the sunlight, ranging from red to dark purple. This complex stone is thought to promote intuition, creativity and concentration.

Perfect for: Students who appreciate uniqueness, adaptability and transformation in their academic journey.

July

Stone: Ruby
Meaning: Vitality
Color: Red

Rubies have long been associated with good health and physical strength. A regal stone, the dark red of ruby is said to promote energy and safety.

Perfect for: Students who desire passion, vitality and determination in their academic endeavors.

August

Stone: Peridot
Meaning: Beauty
Color: Olive Green

Peridot gems stay the same color in both natural and artificial light, which led ancient Egyptians to associate this gem with beauty. Because the green endures through darkness, peridot is believed to fight off nightmares and bring confidence.

Perfect for: Students who seek clarity, renewal and positive energy in their academic journey.

September

Stone: Sapphire/Blue Spinel
Meaning: Truth
Color: Deep Blue

Sapphires (Blue spinel) are thought to ease pain and reduce stress. In the 17th century, the gem was popular among those searching for truth, meaning and honesty.

Perfect for: Students who value tranquility, focus and a touch of mystery in their academic pursuits.

October

Stone: Pink Sapphire
Meaning: Healing
Color: Pink

Pink sapphires are believed to bring wisdom and resilience into your life. These gems are said to assist in big life transitions as well as forgiveness, acceptance and letting go.

Perfect for: Students who embrace compassion, creativity and a radiant spirit in their academic endeavors.

November

Stone: Golden Sapphire
Meaning: Joy
Color: Dark Yellow

Golden sapphires inspire action — joyfully turning ideas and goals into reality. They are said to promote movement in exciting new directions.

Perfect for: Students who exude warmth and seek wisdom and ambition in their academic journey.

December

Stone: Blue Zircon
Meaning: Potential
Color: Blue

Blue zircon is associated with new potential leading to greater happiness. These gems are also believed to help you understand your feelings and turn your wishes into reality.

Perfect for: Students who value authenticity, innovation and creativity in their academic endeavors.

Now that you know what each stone means, it’s time to design your class ring!

START DESIGNING A CLASS RING

Herff Jones offers simulated birthstones and premium stones.

filed under:

Ultimate Checklist for Your Senior Year

Being a high school senior is a crazy time of life — so many things are often happening within a family, from after-school activities, planning for what’s to come after high school, as well as celebrating throughout the year with school traditions like homecoming, prom and more.

We’ve put together the ultimate parent and student senior graduation checklist to help you get planning early in the year and to carry you through graduation day (and beyond). We encourage you to print this off and keep it on your fridge to make sure you stay on track to have the best year and graduation celebration there is!

filed under:

International Badge Day (Video)

Your Badge Says You Belong.

Our Name Says It Will Endure For Generations!

What is a badge? It’s a small piece of jewelry sorority and fraternity members wear close to their hearts. It is a new member’s first tangible symbol of membership, of belonging. The intrinsic meaning of a Greek pin or badge goes far beyond the metal and jewels used to create it. It serves as a lifelong reminder of when the brotherhood or sisterhood journey began. It’s a reminder of initiation day, when a gleaming badge was first pinned over their hearts.

Honoring the historic tradition of intricately crafted jewelry for sororities and fraternities, Herff Jones is deeply honored to serve as the official jeweler to more than 150 national and international Greek-letter organizations, helping to preserve the storied heritage and artistry of Greek jewelry.

Please enjoy this short video showing how sorority and fraternity badges are made, as we join you in celebrating International Badge Day.

filed under:

Graduating Senior: A Day in the Life

Want to know what graduation is really like? Check this out!

Like you, Maya couldn’t believe that graduation day (at Ben Davis High School) was finally approaching. Before now, walking across the stage wearing the ultimate symbol of achievement, her cap and gown, seemed like a day that would never come. Now she can finally say, I’m here. I made it.

Watch this short 5-minute film to see all that you have to look forward to on graduation day – the day you’ll remember for the rest of your life!

The first time putting on my cap and gown, it’s just gonna be, I’m here. I made it. I made it to this day where I’d been saying since freshman year, “It’s never gonna come. It’s never gonna come.” It’s here. What graduation means to me–it’s just, it’s just a time where we can leave all of our immaturity behind us and move on to what we need to do in our life. It’s a time where we just, came from all of our accomplishments and we just, can see each other succeed–like all of your friends succeed and just having those teachers, like Mr. Goings, just know that they care about you.

My name’s Dennis Goings. I teach TV broadcasting and I’m also the department chair for Performing Arts. This is my 15th year here at Ben Davis High School. I always like to use the word, being a fellow athlete, I like to use the word completion. It’s a completion of the first stage of your life that you move on to the next stage of your life and that cap and gown symbolizes that completion mode. In that particular day, they look their best. They’re all in that purple cap and gown and just to look out and see the sea of graduates is an awesome experience, but it’s just the beginning. The beginning of so many other awesome experiences. Graduation is something that they’ll remember the rest of their life.

My biggest support is my mom and my sister, definitely. They are always there to support me 100 percent. Always at my choir concerts, always at my tennis matches, always at everything. I’m really excited to do my speech and tell, tell my fellow classmates what I think they should hear. So I’m going to be talking about what we’ve accomplished this year and that’s regarding the extracurricular activities and the academics. And also, I’m going to focus on us just learning how to live in the moment. Putting on the cap and gown today will make me feel so accomplished. Just knowing that the past 13 years have just been able to pay off to this moment just makes me feel great. I  will know I’m a high school graduate when I turn the tassel with all my classmates and I get the honor to do that with all my cabinet members and my officers. When I take off the cap and gown today, the first people I want to see is all my family members.

It is my honor to now welcome the Ben Davis High School Class of 2017 class president, Miss Maya Carter.
“Good afternoon Dr. Butt, administration, faculty, family, friends, and of course the Class of 2017. I am honored to have the opportunity to speak here at the ceremony today. Oprah Winfrey, noted multi-millionaire spoke to an audience and stated, ‘Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.’ I can remember my first day at Ben Davis high school like it was yesterday. I felt anxious walking through the double doors, thinking I would never be able to find my way around this enormous school. I looked down the hallways that just seemed to never end. However, now, although the school is still large with the teachers and coaches who have been there for us as mentors…being familiar with this school makes it seem so much smaller.”

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the graduates of the class of 2017!

“So now we celebrate, living out our last moment out of the class of 2017 Seniors. I challenge you to go out and do great things in life, one moment at a time.”

Do you have everything you need to walk across the stage in just a few short weeks? Check out the ultimate graduation checklist infographic or shop last minute essentials.

COMPLETE YOUR GRAD PACKAGE

Also, be sure to order your yearbook to remember these moments for years to come.

filed under:

Graduation Cap & Gown Tips: It’s Your Day to Look Your Best!

Hey Graduates! Congratulations –it’s YOUR big day. Graduation is an important milestone, and you need to look your best for your graduation day. We understand as a graduate, you have plenty on your to-do list. From planning your graduation party, to finishing final exams, to making end-of-year memories, this time of the year in a graduate’s life can be extremely stressful. But stressing about how to properly care for and wear your graduation outfit shouldn’t be one of them.

Our team at Herff Jones is here to offer some suggestions to ensure that your graduation day is as stress-free as possible. To look your best and shine for graduation day, follow these five easy steps to preparing your cap and gown for graduation day. From initially removing the gown from the bag, to removing any wrinkles from the gown, to properly wearing the gown, cap, and tassel – we’re here to help you get ready for the big day.

Five Easy Tips to Wear Your Graduation Cap & Gown

1. Immediately remove the gown from the bag.  In order to ensure that your cap, gown and tassel ready for graduation day, it is important to immediately remove the graduation gown from the bag as soon as you get home with your graduation outfit. Leaving the gown in the bag doesn’t allow the fabric to breathe and relax.
2. Place the gown on a hanger.  After you take the graduation gown out of the bag, you should then place it on a hanger to let any wrinkles fall out. If after hanging up the gown to relax, pesky wrinkles still remain in the gown, here are three additional tips you can try:
   • Use a cool iron or steamer on the gown
   • Hang the gown in a bathroom and run the shower as the steam should help release wrinkles.
   • Make sure you don’t wash or dry clean the gown
3. Try on your cap and gown! It’s always a good idea to try on your cap and gown prior to the actual graduation day. Make sure that the gown fits you well and that the measurements are all accurate to avoid any unnecessary stress on graduation day.
4. Check out how the gown looks.  After trying on your graduation gown, make sure that the sleeves fall below your elbow and above the palm of your hand. Also, the bottom of the gown should fall below your knee and above your ankle. When determining the measurements of the gown, it is important to remember that flats or heels won’t affect the hemline of the gown.
5. Complete the graduation outfit with the cap and tassel.  Once you know that your graduation gown fits you correctly, it’s time to try on your cap. To do so, loop the tassel over the button on the top of the cap. Prior to putting on your cap, look inside to find the word “front.” When wearing the cap, it should be flat and level to the floor. Feel free to use bobby pins to properly secure the cap. On graduation day, remember that your tassel starts on the right side and is moved to the left side after you graduate.

After you finish these five steps, you will be ready to look your best on graduation day! There’s only one thing left to remember: take time to enjoy all that you’ve accomplished and how proud everyone is of you. This is the day you’ve worked so hard for, and now it’s time to enjoy this celebration of your dedication and accomplishments. It’s time to celebrate YOU!

To learn how to properly iron, care for, and wear your cap, gown and tassel on graduation day – watch the video below for more information!

SHOP YOUR CAP & GOWN NOW

filed under:

Why a Herff Jones High School Class Ring?

Glad you asked! There are class rings. Then there are Herff Jones Class Rings

As leaders in the class ring industry, Herff Jones offers high school class ring choices that are not available anywhere else so you can make your ultimate statement.

Exclusively at Herff Jones:

• Industry leading warranty where we won’t charge you to resize the ring and replace stones.  Other stores may charge you for resizing and over time your investment will compound for these services.
• If the class ring is lost or stolen within a time period, we’ll replace it for a fraction of the original cost.  You’ll be forced to buy a brand new high school class ring with other retailers.
• Herff Jones is your OFFICIAL school provider of class rings.  You won’t get the OFFICIAL school mascot if you get your ring from another provider.
• We offer multiple ring styles to select from in a wide range of price selections and payment terms that others don’t offer.

Watch this video to learn more!

Throughout the entire high school years, each person navigates a journey unique to them. Their spirit shines through school experiences, their passions. and their achievements. Class rings become a symbol of all things high school. They capture the journey and celebrate successes, passions, and accomplishments. They reflect friends, classmates, and teammates. They are a lasting keepsake.

Every ring tells a unique story. Check out the class ring catalog and use our online ring designer to design the perfect class ring. As leaders in the industry, Herff Jones offers choices that are not available anywhere else so you can make your ultimate statement. Exclusively at Herff Jones – with an industry-leading warranty, we won’t charge you to resize the ring and replace stones. Other stores will and over time your investment will compound for these services. If the ring is lost or stolen within a time period, we’ll replace it for a fraction of the original cost. You’ll have to buy a new ring if you purchased from another retailer.

Herff Jones is your official school provider for class rings. You won’t get the official school mascot if you get a ring from somewhere else. We offer multiple rings styles and a wide range of price selections and payment terms that others don’t offer. When buying from other stores, they won’t celebrate receiving your ring with a special event like we will. And we provide expertise and service during your high school years and beyond. Because we know our product better than anyone else. Class rings are our business. For the best experience, buy from the best.

What’s next? Watch for notifications of the date to attend a class ring event at your school. There, you’ll see and try on ring samples, make selections, discuss payment options, and place your order with a Herff Jones representative.

Be sure to join us at an upcoming event or go online to create an official custom class ring that lets the spirit shine through and celebrates the journey.

START DESIGNING A CLASS RING

filed under:

Your Senior Year Is Officially Here

You’ve waited your whole life to shine as a high school senior.

Seize the moment!

Watch this video to see the journey unfold.

SHOP THE GRADUATION CATALOG >>

filed under:

What Jewelry Style Are You?

Answer these six quiz questions below and we’ll reveal your perfect high school class jewelry style based on your personality. Then, go design your custom class ring online!

[wpViralQuiz id=12953]

Design Your Custom Ring Now

filed under:

Capture Your Class Ring Journey

Celebrate your high school memories with a custom high school class ring that captures your journey and tells your story. Watch the video to learn more!

Throughout the entire high school years, each person navigates a journey unique to them. Their spirit shines through school experiences, their passions. and their achievements. Class rings become a symbol of all things high school. They capture the journey and celebrate successes, passions, and accomplishments. They reflect friends, classmates, and teammates.  They are a lasting keepsake.

Every ring tells a unique story. Check out the class ring catalog and use our online ring designer to design the perfect class ring. As leaders in the industry, Herff Jones offers choices that are not available anywhere else so you can make your ultimate statement. Exclusively at Herff Jones – with an industry-leading warranty, we won’t charge you to resize the ring and replace stones. Other stores will and over time your investment will compound for these services. If the ring is lost or stolen within a time period, we’ll replace it for a fraction of the original cost. You’ll have to buy a new ring if you purchased from another retailer.

START DESIGNING NOW >>

filed under:

Announce Your Big News

Celebrate Four Fantastic Years with Herff Jones Photo Graduation Announcements. Share all your high school achievements with family and friends with personalized graduation announcements. Check out the video below for more.

“I think it’s on the first day of school and I don’t know what grade it is, but I look pretty nervous.”
“Didn’t really do anything with my hair, just kind of showed up for pictures.”
“I had my hair pulled back really tight.”
“I guess my style was jean shorts. I don’t know why I wore those.”
“And like, these clothes, I probably thought they were really cool.
“In seventh grade I was so awkward and I just wanted to fit in with everyone.”
“I always wanted to look good, even though I was little kid, I wanted to.”
“I was extremely awkward like, not just like, normal awkward stage. It was pretty bad.
“This is an embarrassing picture. I mean, I wouldn’t show some girls this.”
“I’m like, I don’t care what people think. Like, this is me.”
“That’s all you really have to do is just be yourself.”
“I always like looking back on my older pictures because it always gives me a good laugh.”
“Those awkward photos are what transitions you into the person you are today.”
“I’m happy these exist.”
“It’s good to keep a part of me.”
“I wouldn’t change anything about myself. I like the way I am.”

Celebrate you with Herff Jones Photo Products!

Shop Photo Announcements

filed under: