1980 USA Hockey Olympic Gold Championship Ring - Salesman Sample
On February 22, 1980, a group of college-aged American hockey players walked into the Lake Placid Olympic fieldhouse and did something the entire world said was impossible. They beat the Soviet Union — the most dominant hockey program on earth — 4–3. Two days later they beat Finland to claim gold. The moment has never left the American sports consciousness, and the ring that commemorates it is one of the most coveted pieces of sports jewelry a collector can own.
This is a Balfour-made salesman sample of the ring issued to Team USA goaltender Jim Craig — the man at the center of the Miracle on Ice — crafted in 10k gold with identical details to the player-issued original.
What is a salesman sample?
Salesman samples were produced by the ring manufacturer — in this case the legendary Balfour — on the exact same machines and dies used to make the player-issued originals. The construction, engravings, and gold work are completely identical. The only difference between this ring and the player issue is that cubic zirconia (CZ) stones replace the diamonds. These rings were never sold to the public; they were used exclusively by sales representatives to present ring designs to teams and organizations. That makes them exceptionally rare on the collectors market today.
| Year | 1980 |
| Material | 10k Gold |
| Manufacturer | Balfour |
| Type | Salesman sample |
| Player style | Jim Craig |
| Stones | Cubic zirconia (CZ) |
Jim Craig — The Man Behind the Mask
- Started every game in goal for Team USA — the undisputed backbone of the Miracle on Ice
- Stopped 36 of 39 Soviet shots (.923 save percentage) in the semifinal — widely considered the performance of a generation
- The image of Craig draped in the American flag searching the stands for his father is one of the most iconic in Olympic history
- Sports Illustrated voted the Miracle on Ice the greatest sports moment of the 20th century — Craig was its central figure
- Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame, US Hockey Hall of Fame, and US Olympic Hall of Fame
- Team USA has won Olympic men's hockey gold only twice — 1960 and 1980. This ring represents the last time the US stood atop the world.