We’re two days out from Super Bowl Sunday; when over 70,000 fans will make their way into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. For the 112,000,000 of us who didn’t score a ticket and will be watching from home, I found an interesting video on just how they make that iconic Vince Lombardi Trophy, one of the most recognizable trophies in all of professional sports. It was first sketched on a napkin in 1967 when then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle approached Tiffany and Co. to craft the trophy. The jewelry icon has made every Super Bowl trophy since that original sketch was drawn; crafting seven pounds of sterling silver over a four month process. The machines and equipment used to create the trophy aren’t those you and I are accustomed to. “It’s like the turn of the century with some of the machines and equipment used,” said Tiffany executive Tom O’Rourke. Old-world terms like silversmithing, spinning, and chasing take place followed by the final polishes and engravings. “It’s made by local craftspeople that are employing crafts and skills from the 1800s,” O’Rourke explained. After the initial process is completed the trophy is off to the Hall of Fame for display, returning to Tiffany for a touchup before its venture to the big game. “It does come in a blue box,” O’Rourke joked. “Actually, the reality is that the trophy will be in blue felt in a secure box – not a traditional Tiffany Box.” When the victors are named, they will have a chance to enjoy the trophy before returning it, yet again to Tiffany for a cleaning and final engraving. “The biggest issue is always the champagne,” O’Rourke said. Reportedly, The New Orleans Saints were the biggest offenders after winning in 2010. What are your plans for Super Bowl Sunday? If you have any interesting Super Bowl trivia or factoids share in the comment section below! Click here to watch the video.
