3 most impressive Super Bowl rings in NFL history

Is it weird that we give the hulking men who win pro football's highest honor a piece of sparking jewelry? Perhaps, but who among us wouldn't like to be rewarded for good work with gold and diamonds?

Below, we take a closer look at the three Super Bowl rings that stand above all others. Images of all 48 Super Bowl rings are available on NFL.com.

3. New Orleans Saints

Super Bowl XLIV

The first Super Bowl rings were made of yellow gold, but the recent trend has strongly favored white gold. The Saints bucked that trend after their win, fashioning a ring in the gold, black and white colors of their uniforms. The fleur-de-lis that serves as the team logo works perfectly as the centerpiece of this relatively understated (as far as gigantic, diamond-encrusted rings go) design.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Super Bowl XLVII, 2012

The over-the-top gaudiness puts this ring over the top. Seriously, this thing is absolutely gigantic. Those football-shaped diamonds representing the team's two Lombardi Trophies are, too. And yes, that's a ruby for the bird's eye. This one is so tacky it becomes awesome.

1. New York Giants

Super Bowl XXI, 1987

(Courtesy: NFL.com)

"Big Blue" gets a big, blue ring to commemorate its first Super Bowl title. The color makes this one pop, but it's not so over-the-top as to take away from the overall aesthetic. Cool and classy. This is what a championship ring should look like.