How Tiffany & Co. makes the Lombardi Trophy and other things you might not have known about the NFL's biggest prize
Meredith Cash
![How Tiffany & Co. makes the Lombardi Trophy and other things you might not have known about the NFL's biggest prize](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-80710776%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-389452%2Fhow-tiffany-amp-co-makes-the-lombardi-trophy-and-other-things-you-might-not-have-known-about-the-nflaposs-biggest-prize.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy.Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
- Each year, the NFL's 32 teams compete for football's greatest prize: the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
- Awarded to the Super Bowl champions, the Tiffany & Co. creation is a sterling silver masterpiece.
- Here's how it's made and some facts you may not have known about the 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.
![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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710956,width-700,height-525,imgsize-268299/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-.jpg)
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
It's been a focal point of every Super Bowl celebration since the early days of the big game.
![It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710954,width-700,height-525,imgsize-584386/itaposs-been-a-focal-point-of-every-super-bowl-celebration-since-the-early-days-of-the-big-game-.jpg)
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.
![The trophy has featured prominently in some legendary sports photos.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710952,width-700,height-525,imgsize-332654/the-trophy-has-featured-prominently-in-some-legendary-sports-photos-.jpg)
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.
![And is often smooched by the victors.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710949,width-700,height-525,imgsize-333083/and-is-often-smooched-by-the-victors-.jpg)
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...
![But most people don](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710937,width-700,height-525,imgsize-653266/but-most-people-donapost-know-much-about-where-the-iconic-trophy-comes-from-.jpg)
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.
![... or how it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710930,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1651373/-or-how-itaposs-made-.jpg)
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.
![The stunning piece is a creation of Tiffany & Co., the iconic luxury jewelry brand based out of New York City.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710929,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1235635/the-stunning-piece-is-a-creation-of-tiffany-amp-co-the-iconic-luxury-jewelry-brand-based-out-of-new-york-city-.jpg)
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.
![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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710927,width-700,height-525,imgsize-764582/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-.jpg)
Naomi Osaka poses with the US Open trophy - made by Tiffany & Co. - after winning the 2020 Women's Singles Final.
Getty Images / Matthew Stockman
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.
![The Larry O](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710925,width-700,height-525,imgsize-145048/the-larry-oaposbrien-championship-trophy-of-the-nba-commissioneraposs-trophy-of-mlb-us-open-singles-trophies-wnba-championship-trophy-pga-tour-fedexcup-trophy-and-dozens-more-all-come-from-the-brand-.jpg)
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
But Tiffany took on responsibility for the Lombardi Trophy from the very first Super Bowl.
![But Tiffany took on responsibility for the Lombardi Trophy from the very first Super Bowl.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710913,width-700,height-525,imgsize-879846/but-tiffany-took-on-responsibility-for-the-lombardi-trophy-from-the-very-first-super-bowl-.jpg)
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.
![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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710900,width-700,height-525,imgsize-526144/ahead-of-super-bowl-i-in-1967-nfl-commissioner-pete-rozelle-contacted-tiffany-xa0and-only-tiffany-xa0to-come-up-with-a-design-for-the-trophy-.jpg)
NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle (left) presents the Vince Lombardi trophy to Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry in 1972.
AP Photos
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame
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.
![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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710888,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1580977/tiffany-amp-co-design-chief-oscar-riedener-xa0a-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-.jpg)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy at Tiffany & Co.
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame
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.
![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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710879,width-700,height-525,imgsize-577900/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-.jpg)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy on display.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame
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.
![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.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710865,width-700,height-525,imgsize-703512/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-.jpg)
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.
![Three years after the Super Bowl tradition began, the game](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710851,width-700,height-525,imgsize-818122/three-years-after-the-super-bowl-tradition-began-the-gameaposs-trophy-was-named-in-honor-of-the-one-and-only-vince-lombardi-.jpg)
Vince Lombardi.
AP Photo/Charles Knoblock
Since 2017, the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been handcrafted in Tiffany's Cumberland, Rhode Island, hollowware workshop.
![Since 2017, the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been handcrafted in Tiffany](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710841,width-700,height-525,imgsize-653113/since-2017-the-vince-lombardi-trophy-has-been-handcrafted-in-tiffanyaposs-cumberland-rhode-island-hollowware-workshop-.jpg)
A Tiffany & Co. sign.
Alexander/Getty Images
Silversmiths, metal spinners, and engravers spend roughly four months creating the masterpiece each year.
![Silversmiths, metal spinners, and engravers spend roughly four months creating the masterpiece each year.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710830,width-700,height-525,imgsize-366610/silversmiths-metal-spinners-and-engravers-spend-roughly-four-months-creating-the-masterpiece-each-year-.jpg)
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.
![The process starts in a furnace, where sterling silver is heated to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and melted in preparation for shaping.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710818,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1512004/the-process-starts-in-a-furnace-where-sterling-silver-is-heated-to-1000-degrees-fahrenheit-and-melted-in-preparation-for-shaping-.jpg)
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.
![Molding, shaping, and carving comes next - with heat added to maintain pliability.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710814,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1212686/molding-shaping-and-carving-comes-next-xa0with-heat-added-to-maintain-pliability-.jpg)
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.
![Polishing is essential to generating the trophy](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710809,width-700,height-525,imgsize-434668/polishing-is-essential-to-generating-the-trophyaposs-signature-shine-.jpg)
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.
![Subtle details - like the football](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710804,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1408479/subtle-details-xa0like-the-footballaposs-laces-xa0are-then-hammered-into-the-precious-metal-.jpg)
The top of the Vince Lombardi Trophy rests on a blue Tiffany & Co. bag.
Tiffany & Co.
And others are etched into the silver.
![And others are etched into the silver.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710800,width-700,height-525,imgsize-2221038/and-others-are-etched-into-the-silver-.jpg)
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.
![Many long hours and four legacy silversmithing techniques later, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is ready for football](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710796,width-700,height-525,imgsize-2763414/many-long-hours-and-four-legacy-silversmithing-techniques-later-the-vince-lombardi-trophy-is-ready-for-footballaposs-greatest-stage-.jpg)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Tiffany & Co.
The only question now is whose hands it'll land in.
![The only question now is whose hands it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-80710790,width-700,height-525,imgsize-553106/the-only-question-now-is-whose-hands-itaposll-land-in-.jpg)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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