- What Are Fake Super Bowl Rings?
- 3 Ways to Spot to Spot a Fake Super Bowl Ring
- Spot Fake Super Bowl Rings in the Listing
- Where Are Fake Super Bowl Rings Sold?
- What to Do If You Purchased a Counterfeit Super Bowl Ring?
- Where to Buy Real Super Bowl Rings
- Frequently Asked Questions
American football fans love the big game, and what better way to celebrate their team's victories than with a replica ring? However, deals on these are almost always too good to be true and end up being fake Super Bowl rings.
The genuine Super Bowl rings handed out to the victors are made with real gold and diamonds, boosting their value to thousands and thousands of dollars—and that's just for the ring itself. Pair that ring with a specific Super Bowl champion, and you could be looking at rings worth over $200,000.
We've outlined everything you need to know to spot the fake Super Bowl rings and protect your investment.
What Are Fake Super Bowl Rings?
Scammers manufacture fake Super Bowl rings to con innocent fans into thinking they're buying the real deal. However, that's rarely the case.
Just earlier this year, federal agents seized over 60 fake Steelers Super Bowl rings from entering the country. These counterfeit rings were almost identical to the authentic champion rings, except for they used cheaper materials and cubic zirconia instead of authentic diamonds.
However, there are replica Super Bowl rings, and these aren't fakes. Instead, they're legitimately manufactured and marketed as look-a-like products—not the real-deal diamond-laced Super Bowl rings. For example, you can find the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl Ring "Fans Edition" on Etsy for just $39.98.
3 Ways to Spot to Spot a Fake Super Bowl Ring
When buying yourself a genuine Super Bowl ring, pay attention to the following features to ensure you're not wasting your money on a fake:
- Price tag
- Product details
- Material and quality
1. Look at the Price Tag
If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Super Bowl rings are made with hundreds of diamonds and genuine gold plating—they're not cheap. If you see a Super Bowl ring listed for less than $10,000, it's almost always going to be a counterfeit. Even replica rings can go for as much as $10,000.
However, bigger price tags don't guarantee authenticity. Fake Super Bowl rings can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. In 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated 177 counterfeit team rings that would have sold for an estimated $12 million—that's an average of more than $65,000 per ring.
2. Verify the Details
Scammers often miss the details. For example, fakes may lack the player's number and position, which can be found on genuine Super Bowl rings.
This isn't always a tell-tale sign, as scammers don't always make this big of a mistake, but always double-check the facts and do your research. When possible, look at images of the rings other teammates received—it's going to be the same design and details.
3. Check the Materials
Diamonds are forever—cubic zirconia is not. If possible, get the ring tested by a legitimate diamond dealer—they'll be able to investigate to determine if the diamonds are genuine.
However, authentic diamonds don't necessarily authenticate the ring's legitimacy. Scammers know that using a real diamond in a fake ring claiming to be a Super Bowl champion ring will dramatically increase its value, and so some are willing to make the greater investment.
Spot Fake Super Bowl Rings in the Listing
It's not always possible to examine a ring in person—that's why you'll need to learn how to identify fake Super Bowl ring listings online. Here are some methods to try:
- Paperwork Trail: Follow the trail to find where and when the ring was manufactured. If your seller isn't the original owner, they should know who was—and they should display that information publicly. This not only guarantees the ring's source, but it also prevents you from buying a stolen or lost ring.
- Seller: Do a bit of background research on the seller. See if they've been involved in any reported cases of fraud in the past. If so, avoid them at all costs—no matter how good the deal may appear. If you're using a site like eBay, make sure the seller has a clean, legitimate history of selling on the platform.
- Typos: Legitimate Super Bowl rings sell for thousands of dollars—their listings won't have typos or grammar mistakes. Scammers worldwide attempt to counterfeit these rings, and they often aren't fluent in the English language—this leads them to make basic grammar errors.
Where Are Fake Super Bowl Rings Sold?
Fake Super Bowl rings are often sold on e-commerce platforms and through local listings. Here's a list of common places you'll find these fakes:
Keep in mind that legitimate sellers use these sites to sell authentic Super Bowl rings, too. However, it can be challenging to differentiate the real rings from the fakes. Below, we've outlined a few techniques you can use to spot the difference.
What to Do If You Purchased a Counterfeit Super Bowl Ring?
Discovered you purchased a counterfeit Super Bowl ring? Here's what to do.
- Contact the seller: Contact the seller or auction house where you purchased the ring and demand a refund. Any legitimate seller will want to protect their reputation, and they'll work with you to find justice.
- Report to the FBI: If you can't make contact with the seller, or they refuse to refund your purchase, contact the police. The police have dealt with high-end counterfeit cases like this for decades, and they'll know the proper procedure for returning your money.
- Reach out to the platform: If you purchased through an e-commerce website like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy, contact the platform or site to let them know about the situation. Many of these websites have protections in place to refund your purchase and prevent future theft.
- Contact your bank or financial institution: Contact the bank or credit card company you used to make the purchase. If you discovered the mistake early on, then you may be able to cancel the transaction before it's finished processing.
Where to Buy Real Super Bowl Rings
You can find real Super Bowl rings on eBay, auction houses, and auction websites. You'll need to do your due diligence to ensure you're not getting scammed because scammers use these locations to sell fakes, too. Remember, follow the paper trail. Any legitimate seller should be able to show you the purchasing trail from them back to the manufacturer.
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