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The Making of the Vince Lombardi Trophy
From raw metal to finished Vince Lombardi trophy take a look at how this prized trophy is made.
During lunch with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1967, Tiffany & Co. vice president Oscar Riedner made a sketch on a cocktail napkin of what would become the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Since then the trophy has been exclusively handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. in Parsippany, New Jersey. The Vince Lombardi Trophy stands 22 inches (56 cm) tall, weighs 7 pounds (3.2 kg) and depicts a regulation-size football in kicking position on a stand with three concave sides. It is made entirely of sterling silver. Here is the making of the trophy from sheet silver to final product being polished on Friday, July 25, 2012, at the Tiffany's factory, Parsippany, New Jersey. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The blueprints for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The three panels are cut from sheets of silver and placed in a hand roller to provide the required curves. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
A sterling silver ball is placed on a spinning lathe and molded into the shape of half of a football. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The making of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The making of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The making of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The making of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Each half is filled with a tar-like substance that hardens and prevents denting. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Each half is filled with a tar-like substance that hardens and prevents denting. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Each half is filled with a tar-like substance that hardens and prevents denting. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Laces are hand cut and soldered on the trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Laces are hand cut and placed on the trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
A blow torch heats the ball to keep the silver soft. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
A blow torch heats the ball to keep the silver soft. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Dimples on the ball are hand-punched. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Dimples on the ball are hand-punched. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Dimples on the ball are hand-punched. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Dimples on the ball are hand-punched. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Dimples on the ball are hand-punched. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The base of the Vince Lombardi Trophy is created. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The base of the Vince Lombardi Trophy is created. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
(AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The base of the Vince Lombardi Trophy is created. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The NFL Shield is cut from a flat sheet of sterling silver and etched using a sandblasting process. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Several passes are required to achieve the proper depth. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is engraved for Super Bowl XLVII. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is engraved for Super Bowl XLVII. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is engraved for Super Bowl XLVII. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is engraved for Super Bowl XLVII. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is polished. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is polished. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is polished. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The finished Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The finished Vince Lombardi Trophy sits next to the blue prints. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
The finished Vince Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photos/David Drapkin)
Pro Football Hall of Fame Collections Curator, Jason Aikens places the Vince Lombardi Trophy on its display in Canton where it will stay until Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. (Jason Rentner/Pro Football Hall of Fame)
The Vince Lombardi Trophy on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame where it will stay until Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. (Matt Waechter/Pro Football Hall of Fame)
