How Tiffany & Co. makes the Lombardi Trophy and other things you might not have known about the NFL's biggest prize

Meredith CashFeb 14, 2022, 01:36 IST

The Vince Lombardi Trophy.Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Each year, the NFL's 32 teams kick off the season in early fall with an eye on winning football's greatest prize: the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Awarded to the Super Bowl champions in February, the shiny Tiffany & Co. creation is an iconic sterling silver masterpiece.
It takes four months, 1000-degree furnaces, and countless master silversmiths, metal spinners, and engravers to craft the most recognizable accolade in American professional sports.
Here's how the legendary hardware made, the history of its design, and some facts you may not have known about the one and only Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Casual and die-hard football fans alike are familiar with the Vince Lombardi Trophy — the gleaming, football-shaped prize awarded annually to the Super Bowl champions.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles holds up the Vince Lombardi trophy after his team won Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018.Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Casual and die-hard football fans alike are familiar with the Vince Lombardi Trophy — the gleaming, football-shaped prize awarded annually to the Super Bowl champions.

It's been a focal point of every Super Bowl celebration since the early days of the big game.

Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy after winning the Super Bowl LIV.REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

The trophy has featured prominently in some legendary sports photos.

Tom Brady and his daughter, Vivian Lake Brady, celebrate with the Vince Lombardi trophy after the New England Patriots' 13-3 win over Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII.Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

And is often smooched by the victors.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees kisses the Vince Lombardi trophy after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL's Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Florida February 7, 2010.REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

But most people don't know much about where the iconic trophy comes from...

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII.Associated Press

... or how it's made.

The base of the Vince Lombardi Trophy is torched.Tiffany & Co.

The stunning piece is a creation of Tiffany & Co., the iconic luxury jewelry brand based out of New York City.

Chesnot/Getty Images

Though the company behind the iconic Blue Box may seem like an odd match for a rough game like football, Tiffany is actually behind many of the most legendary trophies in sports.

Naomi Osaka poses with the US Open trophy — made by Tiffany & Co. — after winning the 2020 Women's Singles Final.Getty Images / Matthew Stockman

Though the company behind the iconic Blue Box may seem like an odd match for a rough game like football, Tiffany is actually behind many of the most legendary trophies in sports.

The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy of the NBA, Commissioner's Trophy of MLB, US Open singles trophies, WNBA championship trophy, PGA Tour FedExCup trophy, and dozens more all come from the brand.

Michael Jordan hoists the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the Chicago Bulls won the NBA Finals in 1997.JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images

The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy of the NBA, Commissioner's Trophy of MLB, US Open singles trophies, WNBA championship trophy, PGA Tour FedExCup trophy, and dozens more all come from the brand.

But Tiffany took on responsibility for the Lombardi Trophy from the very first Super Bowl.

Vince Lombardi (right) and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Hank Stram shake hands as they view the Super Bowl Trophy before Super Bowl I.Bettmann/Getty Images

Ahead of Super Bowl I in 1967, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle contacted Tiffany — and only Tiffany — to come up with a design for the trophy.

NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle (left) presents the Vince Lombardi trophy to Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry in 1972.AP Photos

Tiffany & Co. design chief Oscar Riedener — a Swiss native who knew little about football — is said to have come up with the blueprint of a football atop a kicking tee while eating breakfast in his home.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy at Tiffany & Co.AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

Tiffany & Co. design chief Oscar Riedener — a Swiss native who knew little about football — is said to have come up with the blueprint of a football atop a kicking tee while eating breakfast in his home.

A few days later, Riedener drew the design on a cocktail napkin while eating lunch with Rozelle. His vision continues to be the symbol of triumph in the NFL more than 50 years later.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy on display.AP Photo/Seth Wenig

A few days later, Riedener drew the design on a cocktail napkin while eating lunch with Rozelle. His vision continues to be the symbol of triumph in the NFL more than 50 years later.

The first version of the iconic trophy was made in Newark, New Jersey. Subsequent iterations were crafted by the company just down the road in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Newark, New Jersey.AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Three years after the Super Bowl tradition began, the game's trophy was named in honor of the one and only Vince Lombardi.

Vince Lombardi.AP Photo/Charles Knoblock

Since 2017, the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been handcrafted in Tiffany's Cumberland, Rhode Island, hollowware workshop.

A Tiffany & Co. sign.Alexander/Getty Images

Silversmiths, metal spinners, and engravers spend roughly four months creating the masterpiece each year.

A master engraver works in front of iconic sports trophies at Tiffany & Co.AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

The process starts in a furnace, where sterling silver is heated to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and melted in preparation for shaping.

It takes temperatures of 1000+ degrees Fahrenheit to melt sterling silver.Tiffany & Co.

Molding, shaping, and carving comes next — with heat added to maintain pliability.

A Tiffany silversmith uses a blowtorch to heat the base of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.Tiffany & Co.

Polishing is essential to generating the trophy's signature shine.

The top portion of the Vince Lombardi Trophy is polished.Tiffany & Co.

Subtle details — like the football's laces — are then hammered into the precious metal.

The top of the Vince Lombardi Trophy rests on a blue Tiffany & Co. bag.Tiffany & Co.

And others are etched into the silver.

The NFL logo is etched into silver for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.Tiffany & Co.

Many long hours and four legacy silversmithing techniques later, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is ready for football's greatest stage.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy.Tiffany & Co.

The only question now is whose hands it'll land in.

Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium.Christian Petersen/Getty Images

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How Tiffany & Co. makes the Lombardi Trophy and other things you might not have known about the NFL's biggest prize

Casual and die-hard football fans alike are familiar with the Vince Lombardi Trophy — the gleaming, football-shaped prize awarded annually to the Super Bowl champions.

It's been a focal point of every Super Bowl celebration since the early days of the big game.

The trophy has featured prominently in some legendary sports photos.

And is often smooched by the victors.

But most people don't know much about where the iconic trophy comes from...

... or how it's made.

The stunning piece is a creation of Tiffany & Co., the iconic luxury jewelry brand based out of New York City.

Though the company behind the iconic Blue Box may seem like an odd match for a rough game like football, Tiffany is actually behind many of the most legendary trophies in sports.

The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy of the NBA, Commissioner's Trophy of MLB, US Open singles trophies, WNBA championship trophy, PGA Tour FedExCup trophy, and dozens more all come from the brand.

But Tiffany took on responsibility for the Lombardi Trophy from the very first Super Bowl.

Ahead of Super Bowl I in 1967, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle contacted Tiffany — and only Tiffany — to come up with a design for the trophy.

Tiffany & Co. design chief Oscar Riedener — a Swiss native who knew little about football — is said to have come up with the blueprint of a football atop a kicking tee while eating breakfast in his home.

A few days later, Riedener drew the design on a cocktail napkin while eating lunch with Rozelle. His vision continues to be the symbol of triumph in the NFL more than 50 years later.

The first version of the iconic trophy was made in Newark, New Jersey. Subsequent iterations were crafted by the company just down the road in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Three years after the Super Bowl tradition began, the game's trophy was named in honor of the one and only Vince Lombardi.

Since 2017, the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been handcrafted in Tiffany's Cumberland, Rhode Island, hollowware workshop.

Silversmiths, metal spinners, and engravers spend roughly four months creating the masterpiece each year.

The process starts in a furnace, where sterling silver is heated to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and melted in preparation for shaping.

Molding, shaping, and carving comes next — with heat added to maintain pliability.

Polishing is essential to generating the trophy's signature shine.

Subtle details — like the football's laces — are then hammered into the precious metal.

And others are etched into the silver.

Many long hours and four legacy silversmithing techniques later, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is ready for football's greatest stage.

The only question now is whose hands it'll land in.