Miami Heat Rings In New Season With Some Serious Bling

Featuring 219 diamonds and weighing more than a quarter-pound each, the championship rings of the Miami Heat basketball team are a sight to behold. Manufactured by Jostens and driven from the company's production facility in Montreal to Miami under tight security, the trove of super-size rings were presented to superstars Lebron James (size 13.5), Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and their teammates during a special ceremony that preceded the Heat's home opener against the Boston Celtics last week.

The rings are designed in 14-karat white and yellow gold and weigh an extraordinary 115 grams (.254 lbs). Of the 219 diamonds, 173 are round and 46 are princess cut.

The top of each ring features a large faceted black onyx inlaid with a 14-karat yellow gold NBA Championship Trophy and a 14-karat white gold Miami Heat logo set atop the trophy. A half-carat diamond in the shape of a basketball completes the trophy symbol and 31 round brilliant-cut diamonds emblazon the Heat logo. The embossed white-gold words "World" and "Champions" at the top and bottom of the face emerge from a black ground.

One side of the ring shows two championship trophies symbolizing the Heat's 2006 and 2012 world titles. They are set with 43 round brilliant-cut diamonds. The word "Family" is embossed under the trophies, and the Heat and NBA logos are cast to the right of the trophies.

Each player has his name customized on the other side. Under the name is the "All In" team championship trophy formed from two custom-cut onyx stones. "All In" was the team's rally cry throughout the playoffs. On the base of the trophy are 16 bars in yellow gold that represent each win during the playoffs. Encircling the trophy are the jersey numbers of the 15 players who formed the championship team.

The inscription on the inside of the band says, "Forged in the fire between a hammer and an anvil," and it includes the date 6-21-12, the day they won their second championship.

Miami Heat fans shared in the celebration, as souvenir stands at the arena were selling replicas of the champion rings. The $5,500 Ultimate Fan Ring, designed in 14-karat gold, featured many of the components of the real thing, including some diamonds. A 10-karat gold version was available for $3,900.