Do you know what kind of ring this is?

The Engineer’s Ring (also known as the Iron Ring or Ring of Shame) is a ring awarded only to graduates from the engineering departments of the top universities in North America, serving as a reminder to them of their responsibilities and duties as engineers to the public and society. This ring is regarded as \"the most expensive ring in the world\"; its significance is as great as that of a military medal. Throughout the Western world, the iron ring has become a symbol of the outstanding status and high rank of an exceptional engineer. There are 10 facets on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the ring’s outer side.

This ring originated from the tragedy of the Quebec Bridge in Canada. In 1900, construction began on the Quebec Bridge, which spans the St. Lawrence River. In order to build the longest bridge in the world at that time, what could have been an immortal masterpiece had its span increased by engineers from 487.7 meters to an imprudent 548.6 meters during the design phase. At 5:32 p.m. on August 29, 1907, as the bridge was nearing completion, it collapsed, resulting in the death of 75 out of 86 workers on the bridge and 11 being injured. The accident investigation revealed that this tragedy was caused by a minor calculation error made by the engineer during the design process. The painful lessons prompted reflection, and since then, the rebar from the collapsed bridges has been recast into rings that, for about 100 years now, serve as a constant reminder to every engineer considered part of the elite of their duties and responsibilities.

In 1922, the seven engineering schools in Canada pooled their funds to purchase all the debris resulting from the collapse, deciding to turn those steel bars into rings to be given to future graduates of these engineering schools. Due to technical limitations at the time, those steel bars could not be forged into rings, so the academy sought new types of steel as a substitute. To remember this accident and to honor those who lost their lives in it, the ring was designed in a twisted shape resembling debris.

Engineering cannot be taken lightly; even a tiny spark matters.

Wearing the Engineer’s Ring: Traditionally, the Engineer’s Ring must be worn on the little finger of the dominant hand, which is used for drawing or calculating. This means that an *left-handed engineer should wear their engineer’s ring on the little finger of their left hand. When young engineers first put on their engineer’s ring, they find that whether they are drawing or doing calculations, their dominant hand feels uncomfortable; this is a constant reminder to them to keep in mind the engineer’s oath and their responsibilities toward the general public.

The design is unsafe; it is inherently unsafe

In Canada, when students graduate from the seven engineering schools, they must participate in a unique and sacred graduation ceremony—the Kipling Ceremony, also known as the Iron Ring Ceremony. This ceremony is not open to the public; graduates of the School of Engineering will be awarded the Iron Ring at this ceremony, a symbol of being a Canadian engineer. This ring represents an engineer’s pride, responsibility, duties, and humility. More importantly, it is to remind them never to forget the lessons and humiliations of history. Later on, this tradition continued, and those engineer’s rings became the most expensive rings in the world. They are worn on the little finger of the hand that engineers use most often, serving as a warning and a reminder. They are not gold, nor silver, yet they are incredibly precious. They are the flesh and blood of dozens of victims, and a warning bell in the hearts of engineers. They are not as precious or enduring as diamonds, but they serve as a constant reminder of the responsibilities borne by engineers. The responsibility that engineers bear for the fragile and short lives of others!

In Canada, when students graduate from the seven engineering schools, they must participate in a unique and sacred graduation ceremony—the Kipling Ceremony, also known as the Iron Ring Ceremony. This ceremony is not open to the public; graduates of the School of Engineering will be awarded the Iron Ring at this ceremony, a symbol of being a Canadian engineer. This ring represents an engineer’s pride, responsibility, duties, and humility. More importantly, it is to remind them never to forget the lessons and humiliations of history. Later on, this tradition continued, and those engineer’s rings became the most expensive rings in the world. They are worn on the little finger of the hand that engineers use most often, serving as a warning and a reminder. They are not gold, nor silver, yet they are incredibly precious. They are the flesh and blood of dozens of victims, and a warning bell in the hearts of engineers. They are not as precious or enduring as diamonds, but they serve as a constant reminder of the responsibilities borne by engineers. The responsibility that engineers bear for the fragile and short lives of others!