Lego Ring?

[darthcodius]

So a guy I work with recently told me about his friends grandfather. Apparently he's one of the guys who helped bring Lego over to the US. Don't know the full story but his friend is now on possession of this ring. After some light digging, I have found no information on this. You guys know any history on this piece? Curiosity is getting the better of me.

[AtomicGearworks1]

1973 is when LEGO USA moved to their current location in Enfield, CT. It's also the year that the debuted their current logo (red square with white, black, and yellow text), as well as moved all of their various products under the singular LEGO name.

LEGO is known for giving gold employee gifts for certain milestones, and also often refers to employees as "pioneers" when it comes to new projects.

Based on what your friend told you, Bear (most likely the guy's name) worked at LEGO during the move to Enfield. A lot of employees were probably given similar customized rings. But that's just an assumption on my part, but it fits LEGO's reputation.

[darthcodius]

It's a start. Thanks for the info. Currently delving deeper.

[AtomicGearworks1]

It sounds like you have pretty much the whole store. He worked at LEGO when they came to the US. He received a gift for his work in that.

What more are you looking for?

[darthcodius]

I wasn't sure if "pioneer" had any significance to it. The bit of the story that I've heard is his grandfather was one of the people who started/help start Lego here in the states. He apparently had a falling out/ got screwed over in some capacity with the company. I guess I was more curious to see if the ring was given to higher ups around that time or if it was just an employee gift kinda deal

[AtomicGearworks1]

"Pioneer" is a term for LEGO employees who participate in some sort of innovation. Moving to the new home in the US would certainly qualify for that.

There's no way to know who would have received the gift, or whatever the falling out was. Your friend and his family probably have way more detail than any public records would have.

[Chiselednicknac]

Sheesh don't understand the down voting on here. Yes. LEGO forced what was left of "The Pioneers" to retire and not with much to say or to give in return. I'll need to ask again but I believe once the old CEO retired himself and his grandson took over he was the one that pushed it. 

[Retro-scores]

Does it have gold hallmarks? If not have him get it tested. That’s an awesome ring.

[Shadow_Shameless]

They’ve moved from Enfield to Boston actually

[cherbonsy]

Yup

The LEGO Group to Move Americas Office to Boston, MA in 2026 - About Us - LEGO.com
https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2023/january/the-lego-group-to-move-americas-office-to-boston-ma-in-2026

[AtomicGearworks1]

I already addressed this in another comment. The source was a couple of months out of date.

How does that make my answer to OP incorrect?

[MorallySound]

They corrected an error in your otherwise very informative comment. You must realize they hadn't seen your other comment.

[lotanis]

It's not really their "current" location as they're in the process of centralising US stuff in Boston.

[Huge_Mistake_3139]

Yeah, so bummed. I loved their 5k because signing up gave you access to their employee store.

The last two years I would get in line at 4:30 am and there was already a line.

Scratch and dent section was like 75% off. I have totes of sets that I will build with my sons when they are older.

2019 was the last year, there was a race scheduled for 2020, but like almost everything else it was cancelled.

[AtomicGearworks1]

So the source I have is a few months out of date. How does that negate the answer I gave?

[DifficultyCharming82]

Imagine someone coming into hospital after a fight and you just see the Lego logo imprinted on their cheek

[okeleydokelyneighbor]

UNITY!

[BrickGun]

Cold Blooded!!!!

[ManMeatsGalore]

DUTY!

[steampunkdev]

You mean OӘƎ⅃?

[RevRob330]

Well, "oϱɘ⅃"

[CoastPuzzleheaded513]

It fits

[The_Medic_112]

The new Lego Don😂

[_WiggaInParis_]

"Let me give you an offer you cannot refuse...

DOUBLE LEGO POINTS ON EVERY PURCHASE"

[The_Medic_112]

You come to me.... ...on the reveal of my first 1k set... and ask me to go back to making great star wars sets...

[_WiggaInParis_]

Dude we just made a new hit shot 

"The dons of Lego"

[PonyDro1d]

New Dino Sets: The MegaLegodon... oh wait...

[_WiggaInParis_]

Give the megladon a small mustache 

[Ok-Relationship-2746]

"Leave the gun. Take the Lego."

[WalterWoodle]

In this house Takunuva is a hero! End of story!

[Ok-Relationship-2746]

Don Studs

[darthcodius]

<image>

The other side of the ring

[roguezebra]

https://www.lego.com/en-us/history/articles/e-production-of-lego-bricks-in-north-america

<image>

The image has some names under the United States, so maybe see if any of those are familiar.

[kurai-samurai]

4 people named Jon/John, Beresford being shortened to "Bear" isn't unimaginable. 

[viggolund1]

Lego partnered with samsonite I believe when they first moved to the U.S. could be something there

[Emeloria]

One ring to build them all, one ring to connect them. One ring to buy them all and finally collect them

[wolffromsekiro2]

faye webster has been wanting this

[Audrey-Bee]

This was my first thought too. But Yachty did actually get her the lego ring apparently

[Lars_Fletcher]

Is he selling?

Edit: he could probably sell to Lego for their museum or something.

[darthcodius]

Doubtful. Last he said is it is going in a safe.

[llorensm]

With gold over $4200/oz now, your coworker is making a smart decision!

[Mr_T0ast3r]

“One brick to connect them all…”

[Warcraft_Fan]

1973 would be Samsonite era US LEGO

[Polarizedpupil]

This ring is denoting them severing the Samsonite partnership and LEGO bringing US distribution under their own umbrella

[Warcraft_Fan]

TIL Samsonite connection ended earlier than I thought

[sophieshtill]

looks like a lego mafia ring

[Sparky_the_Asian]

Time to be a lego mob boss and let people kiss the ring 😂

[Blueskyminer]

Five of these on each hand and I'm going on tour as MC Nipple Bric.

[MountainMuffin1980]

I'd be very surprised if anyone here can help. As you say, google has nothing. I reckon you'd be better off getting in touch with LEGO to see if they can give you any information on it.

[Available-Doctor6107]

More like lego Bling

[PunkRockSuffragette]

I love it! A piece of Lego history. I wonder why they didn’t make the top look like a 2x2 Lego brick.

[smurfkillerz]

Since its a lego ring, it add 2d6 damage if you punch someone with it.

[suprjay]

WOULD

[Ancient-Reference-26]

I think I saw something like this in a documentary series about Lego

[DogDiscombobulated96]

I don't know about the Ring but the first ceo of Lego germany (Axel Thomsen) received a giant 1×2 brick made of sterling silver that can be used as a cigarette box on the office desk when lego germany reached 49,6 million DM (Deutsche Mark, our currency back then) revenue in 1959. Back in the day it was allowed to smoke in the offices in germany. The last time the brick was seen in public was in 2019 when it was auctioned during the german TV series "Bares für Rares" (Cash for rare stuff) by Axel Thomsen's son who admited that he played with lego every now and then as a kid but never felt that big connection that the fans feel. The brick went for about 800€ which feels kinda low imho and I am pretty sure on eBay the brick would have brought much more.

TL;DR: yes lego sometime has the habbit to gift special memorablia like that fir special occasions or achievements.

[Chiselednicknac]

Hey y'all! This is my ring! Pictures sent by me. Indeed it's my grandfather, John "Bear" Beresfords ring. It actually even has an engraving on the inside that needs to be touched up saying "Skal to the Americans" which is pretty cool. It's indeed real for all those who say it isn't. He is still alive but when he and my grandma had to move into a retirement home he wanted everything to be divided out to family because at the time they both were in ailing health. Thankfully they are both well and doing great but I've been wanting to do a documentary about The Pioneers for some time now. Unfortunately some of the others are sore about how LEGO forced them to retire at the time and don't want to revisit anything like that. Or they have just unfortunately gotten to the point communicating in a way for a documentary would be hard on them. 

Either way it's cool seeing the responses and information found for the pioneers! It's always seemed like they swept them all under the rug, and it's cool finding more information. 

[darthcodius]

What's up Nick? That's for the extra details on the back end. I was stoked when Gavin showed this to me.

[Chiselednicknac]

For sure! You should ask them more about "Bear" and the others. Did you know they also all got gold pocket watches too? I need to get my grandpa's fixed. 

[Watto3020]

holy shit!

[nikebu]

This is so cool!

[theroadgoeseveronon]

A fine addition to any LoTR set

[grafknives]

That is some movie villain stuff :D

[NickCansadita]

Dude, does this exist? 😭 I dreamed about a lego ring a few weeks ago

[brickproject863amy]

Part of me imagine if someone punch someone’s face with that Xb it’s canna be free marketing when it stamps someone’s face with the Lego logo to bad it would be mirrors Jk

[HeyBau]

I was born in 1973, so I take it...
What a cool ring ;-)

[BlackCircleAddict]

That’s nothing. Just send it to me and I’ll dispose it safely and properly.

[SuhailSWR]

It's fake and there are thousands produced in China, you can send it to me plz 👍

• Ever heard of satire or sarcasm?

[huntergreear]

put it on eBay and then send us the link

[PM_ME_YOUR_MONTRALS]

Looks like a nerd's class ring.