The NTH Ring (Norwegian: NTH-ringen, first known as Høiskoleringen, also known as Ringen, Sivilingeniørringen, NTNU/NTH-ringen or Master-ringen) is a ring worn only by graduates of the Master of Science in engineering or architecture programmes (formerly the sivilingeniør or sivilarkitekt programmes), at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), formerly known as NTH (Norwegian Institute of Technology).[1]
About 1,000 rings are sold per year.[2]
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.[3] The gold ball symbolises the globe, and the steel ring and posts represent the technology and scientific advances that "hold the Earth up".[3]
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 they are held together by the inner golden ring. Each ring is also individually numbered.[3][4]
The ring is sold by two goldsmiths in Trondheim, Gullsmed Dahlsveen and Gullsmed Møller.[5] Gullsmed Dahlsveen had exclusive rights to production for over 50 years, and has been producing the ring since 1928.[3]
Lise Lyngsnes Randeberg, a graduate of NTH, has said that the ring is a symbol of completion of a long and difficult course of education, and is particularly important for female engineers to show they have the capability to contribute professionally in a male-dominated environment.[2][3]